Mary Essie Williams Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

MARY ESSIE WILLIAMS NEW HARMONY, INDIANA Mary Essie Williams, 87, of New Harmony, Indiana, died Monday, June 30, 2014 at Charlier Hospice Center in Evansville, Indiana. Essie was born the second of four daughters on February 9, 1927 in rural Mt. Vernon, Indiana, to Harold and Malinda Stevens Stein. She married Billy Ray Williams on February 2, 1946, in Evansville, Indiana. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary before his death on July 6, 2012. Essie attended Bufkin Grade School and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1946. She was a homemaker. Essie, along with Marie Mann and Mary Marse, founded a Home Economics club for northern Posey County and remained active in Home Ec throughout her life, having served as president on both the local and county levels. She enjoyed many years of teaching Sunday school, junior church and Bible school as well as serving as a 4-H leader. When she and Billy Ray bought a farm in New Harmony, Indiana and moved there in 1977, she enjoyed volunteering for the various festivals sponsored by Historic New Harmony. During the first 20 years of her marriage it was customary for farm wives to prepare a large noon meal for the men working for their husbands, and Essie served hundreds of those meals. She and Billy Ray enjoyed entertaining and offered warm hospitality to many friends and family throughout their lives. They also loved ballroom dancing, and their grace was beautiful to watch. Essie was a gifted decorator and planner of holiday and other special events. All who entered her home felt welcomed and special. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters: Eleanor Stinson, Catty Stinson and Jennie Staples; two daughters: Susan Blackburn and Mary Hoffman; and a grandson: Robert “Bobby” Rogge. Survivors include a son: William Chris "Billy" Williams of New Harmony, Indiana; two daughters: Sandra Vogel (Stanley), of Topeka, Kansas and Jo Ann Russell (Rick), of New Harmony, Indiana; grandchildren: Scott Osborne, David Vogel, Michelle O’Connor, Byron Vogel, Melanie Wilkey, Natalie Vaughan, Mindy Rueger, Rachel Thole and Eric Williams; step granddaughter: Michele Chamness and 17 great-grandchildren. A service of Death and Resurrection will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 3, 2014 at Johnson United Methodist Church in New Harmony, Indiana, with burial in Maple Hill Cemetery, Reverend John Adams officiating. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at the Werry Funeral Home in New Harmony, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to: Johnson United Methodist Church, 403 Raintree Street, P.O. Box 515, New Harmony, Indiana 47631.

Mary Essie Williams

February 9, 1927 - June 30, 2014

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