Kathleen Kay Williams

An all American girl who lived life fully in the company of loving family and friends, Katie Williams was a loving wife, dedicated mother, sister and friend who leaves much to be remembered. She will be greatly missed, but the joy she added to the lives she touched will be forever etched in the hearts of all those who knew and loved her. With the baby boom in full swing, the 1950s marked a quieter, more stable time in America. Families did much together, and sat down in the evenings to watch favorite television programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show and I Love Lucy. In their quiet hometown of Scottville, Michigan, Lloyd “Stevie” and Lois (Fouch) Stephens celebrated a most joyous event on March 22, 1952, as they welcomed a beautiful daughter named Kathleen Kay into their family.While growing up in Scottville, Katie experienced many wonderful times that made for lasting memories. She and her family were longtime members of the Scottville United Methodist Church. After church each Sunday, their family would meet up with friends downtown in Scottville at Brooke’s Drug Store for a coke. Growing up in the church, Katie was led to volunteer as a Sunday school teacher. She spent many enjoyable summers at her Grandmother Fouch’s farm in Iowa, where she developed a lasting affection for animals. Katie especially became fond of horses, and would one day love and care for her very own. Katie attended Mason County Central schools in Scottville. Quite outgoing and well like, she became a “Scottie” girl as a proud member of the marching band color guard. From time to time, Katie worked for her father at his funeral home, when she was able, but her school years were filled with many friends, school events and great times. She graduated in 1970, and became a “Gibb’s” girl when she went to work as a waitress at Gibbs Restaurant in Ludington in the summertime. Katie attended Western Michigan University, earning her degree in Education in 1974. There was much more in store for Katie during her time at Western. While working at the Top Hat restaurant in Kalamazoo, she met a dashing young man named Donald Williams. The two hit it off and began dating. On their second date, Don announced that he was going to marry her. Their relationship grew, and they were married on July 6, 1974 in Scottville. Together they purchased the Emerson Lake Inn in Walhalla. Don ran the restaurant while Katie taught at Riverton School. After a couple years, Katie joined Don at the restaurant. Restaurant life had been a natural fit for Katie as she thoroughly enjoyed cooking and was truly at home in the kitchen. At times, Katie would join Don out front, as it gave her the opportunity to get to know and love their patrons. She continued to be most content and comfortable in the kitchen where she made a vast array of specialties for each night of the week. Another natural for Katie was becoming a mother when son Stephen was born in 1978, followed by son Jesse in 1980. Katie embraced her role as mother and loved being their biggest supporter in all that they did. She was sure to attend their many sporting events, band concerts and school functions. She loved her boys with all of her heart, and was looking forward to becoming a grandmother in August, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Stephen’s first child, Andrew James. As a survivor of cancer, Katie battled with breast cancer in 2001, and was overjoyed when she received an “all clear” diagnosis in 2002. She and Don, along with friends and family, celebrated the news with a big party. A strong supporter of the American Cancer Society, Katie was quite involved with the many Relay for Life events held in the area, and the restaurant sponsored a team in the Ludington relay each year. An avid participant, Katie received a special award from Relay for Life, recognizing her dedicated support. Katie was a down to earth woman who not only found great joy in her family and her love of cooking, but also had an intense appreciation for the outdoors. She found peace and solitude at their home on Emerson Lake where she spent her time enjoying the changing seasons and gardening. She enjoyed traveling with friends to New York City and visiting family in Florida each year. She relished the ocean breezes and sunny beaches in Florida, and often made trips to Maryland to visit her son Stephen. Katie loved being in the company of good friends and family, and each fall, looked forward to attending the Scottville Harvest Festival. She was an avid Detroit Tigers and Red Wings fan, and over the years had occasionally taken the boys to Detroit to see a game or two. Katie possessed a wonderful personality filled with wit and humor. She came up with the best one liners, and her “slogans” were second to none. She and her brother Tim would often banter old song lyrics back and forth, competing to see who remembered the most. Always having shared a close bond with her brother, Katie especially turned to him two years ago when her husband Don died suddenly on May 23, 2007. It was then that Katie’s boys encouraged her to move closer to them, but Katie couldn’t part with the home she had come to love. Her beloved and faithful dogs, Buddy and Max, along with Jesse’s dog Whiskey, provided great company and solace for Katie following Don’s death. As she lived her life fully, experiencing the joys of being a home town girl, to the mother of two wonderful sons, Katie had much to look forward to in the days and years to come. Quite unexpectedly, Kathleen “Katie” Williams, at the age of 57, sadly died at her home on Saturday, June 13, 2009.She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Donald. Katie will be greatly missed by her son Stephen Williams and his wife Tammy of LaPlata, Maryland, and her son Jesse Williams of Lansing; her brother Tim Stephens and his wife Debbie of Ludington; her stepmother Virginia Stephens of Jackson, Tennessee; her nephews Kasey Stephens and his wife Angela, and Ben Stephens all of Austin, Texas; her mother-in-law Marie Meyers and her husband Robert of Plainwell; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Duane (Susie) Williams of Brighton, Dwight (Doreen) Williams of Jenison, Deb (Rick) Hyde of Climax, Robin (Jeff) Bishop and Kim (Larry) Cooper all of Plainwell, and Tony (Karen) Mitchell of Otsego; and many other nieces and nephews.

Kathleen Kay Williams

March 22, 1952 - June 13, 2009