Melvin Williams

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Melvin "Churn" Williams, 79, of Bloomfield, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002.

He was born Sept. 16, 1922, son of Frank and Leecy Bolin Williams. He and Deane Clark were married July 4, 1942. She survives.

Williams had lived in Bloomfield all his life, graduating from Bloomfield High School in 1942. He owned a business for several years and served as juvenile officer for 16 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bloomfield.

He was instrumental in establishing the Stoddard County Children's Home and the Bloomfield Juvenile Detention Center. He served on the board of directors for the Bloomfield Children's Home, Children's Place in Malden, Mo., Crowley Ridge Country Club and the Southeast Missouri Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, where he also was a member. He served on the Bloomfield City Council for several years.

Other survivors include two daughters, Jayme Stewart and Judi Davis, both of Winston, Ga.; eight grandchildren; and three great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by a son, a granddaughter, eight brothers and a sister.

Visitation will be after noon Tuesday at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel, with Mike Watkins and Roy Dunivan officiating.