Homer Ellis Williams

Homer Williams was born in Fox, Oregon on October 27, 1919 to Edward and Cora (Burk) Williams. They lived in Spokane, Washington for a brief period and then moved to Monument, Oregon. Homer had one sibling, a younger brother, George. "The Williams Boys" were known around Monument for being a bit of a mischievous pair and maybe “just a little wild".

Homer graduated from Monument High School in 1938 along with six others in his graduating class. Following graduation, Homer went to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps as a truck driver- a trade that became his life long career. In his early trucking years, he drove a logging truck for M+R Logging of Hamilton, Oregon.

In August of 1944, Homer entered into active duty and proudly served his country in WWII. Army service took him to Germany, Austria, Northern France and England, where he served as a light truck driver and qualified as a combat infantryman and marksman.

Following his discharge from active military duty in March of 1946, Homer returned to Monument and continued his career as a trucker. He renewed his childhood acquaintance with Mary Jackson. In March 1947, Mary swore she would never marry him "even if he was the last man on earth".....6 months later, on September 15, 1947, the two exchanged wedding vows in Orofino, Idaho. They had two daughters, Joyce and Linda, and one son, Chancey. They lived in the Hermiston, Oregon area and then relocated to Portland, Oregon.

Homer’s main career was as a tanker truck driver. He drove for Howard R. Williams Trucking and for Consolidated Freightways which later became Matlack. He retired in 1981. Following retirement, Homer and Mary moved to the Oregon Blue Mountains near Starkey (approximately 25 miles west of La Grande). They began rebuilding a cabin from the ground up. This became Homer and Mary’s (and family members) big project and labor of love. Homer’s brother George also had a cabin home nearby and the two planned to spend their retirement years together. Unfortunately, George passed away in 1982.

In 1984, in order to be closer to family and doctors, Homer and Mary moved once again to Hermiston. In 1986, they moved to Portland and later purchased a home in the southeast area. The two loved camping and enjoyed hunting deer and elk together. Mary was a "rock hound" and they traveled to the opal and emerald mines in Eastern Oregon. They also enjoyed going out and seeking seasonal mushrooms and huckleberries.

Homer lost the "love of his life" when Mary passed away on April 1, 2003. They shared a truly remarkable bond and will be remembered as a couple who did everything together. They are celebrated as a couple who “held hands to the last”.

Homer was very proud to be a founding member of the American Legion Post 148 in his home town of Monument, Oregon.

Homer is predeceased by his parents Edward and Cora; his loving wife, Mary; and his brother George. He is survived by his daughter Joyce Schuetze; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and John Meisner; son, Chancey Williams; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Homer will always be remembered as a devoted husband and a loving father.

A funeral service will take place in Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, August 4th, 2012, at 4:30pm. Homer will be privately laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens.

The family requests that remembrances be made to the American Cancer Society to help find a cure for Prostrate Cancer.

Please visit Homer’s Internet memorial and online guestbook at: www.skylinememorialgardens.com