Delores Rose Williams

Delores “Punky” Williams passed peacefully in her home surrounded by her loved ones’ early morning January 17th. Punky was a loving and devoted mother, aunty, and sister, and a proud member of the Tulalip Tribes.

Punky was born and raised on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. She graduated from Marysville High School in 1957 and then trained as a medical dictaphone transcriber and medical librarian. While working at Ballard Hospital, she met her soul mate, Edward “Eddie” Williams. They married and moved to Portland, Oregon where they raised their son, Joseph Williams. Punky worked as a medical librarian at Good Samaritan Hospital for 30 years. Punky returned to Tulalip in 1997 where she lived the remainder of her life surrounded by her large extended family.

Throughout her life, Punky was known for her big smile and laughter. She and Eddie enjoyed cruising in their 57 Chevy, Hot August Nights in Reno, traveling with family, gold margaritas on the rocks, and chips and salsa. After her husband passed, she continued to travel with her son and her siblings.

Punky was preceded in death by her husband Edward Williams, her parents Rose Cultee Fryberg and Abraham “Shorty” Fryberg, her brother Leroy Fryberg Sr., her best friend and cousin Sally Prouty, and numerous grandparents, aunties, uncles, nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her son, Joseph Williams. Her siblings Cookie and Bert Robbinson, Sammy and Gerald Fryberg, and David and Cherol Fryberg. Her nieces and nephews: David “Chip” and Tina Fryberg, Sabrina “Sooky” Fryberg, Leanne Fryberg, Dorothy “Topo” and Fella Jones, Stephanie Fryberg, David “Tiger” and Debbie Fryberg, Steve Fryberg, Leonie and Larry Fryberg, Ross and Krisan Fryberg, and numerous other great (and great great) nieces and nephews.

The family wants to thank all the caregivers who loved and cared for Punky. Special thanks to Michele Sawyer, Tammara Smith, Amanda Abbott, Royalean Baker, Ann Shimkevich, Carol Wilker and Sabrina Hollibaugh.

Visitation will be held on Monday, January 21st, 2019 at 1:00pm at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home. There will be a private service held later that same evening. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 at 10:00am at the Tulalip Tribal Gym with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.