Merlyn Williams

MERLYN WILLIAMS

Mt. Pleasant, IA

Merlyn D. Williams, 82 of Mt. Pleasant, died Saturday, April 20, 2019 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City after suffering a stroke.

The Funeral service for Mr. Williams will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, April 25 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend Deborah J. Stowers, Senior Pastor and Pastor Earl Swigart of Lockridge Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Mt. Pleasant, with graveside honors conducted by Iowa Military Funeral Honors Detail. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 8:00 PM on Wednesday at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM on Wednesday at the funeral home. There will be a Masonic Service at 7 PM conducted by the Mt. Pleasant Lodge #8 AF & AM.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may be directed to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.

Merlyn Denver Williams was born September 29, 1936 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the son of Denver and Minnie Ruth (Rahly) Williams. He lived in Mississippi briefly as a young child before moving to a farm near Mt. Pleasant. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1955. On April 9, 1961 at Calvary Episcopal Church in Danvers, MA, Merlyn was united in marriage to Mary Olive (Prentiss) Williams. Mrs. Williams died Thursday, June 23, 2016 at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant. On November 17, 2017 in the Chapel of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant, Merlyn was united in marriage to Sandra Mae (Pezley) Parker Williams.

After high school, Merlyn studied Agricultural Engineering at Iowa State University. Merlyn left the university to enlist in the United States Army. He entered the Army on September 2, 1959 at Ft. Des Moines, IA. He was honorably discharged on August31, 1962 at Ft. Devens, MA. Merlyn and Mary returned to Mt. Pleasant where Merlyn was engaged in livestock and grain farming. He became a substitute Rural Letter Carrier which led to a full time position, carrying the mail for Rural Route 5, Mt. Pleasant. He retired in the 1990's after over 20 years of service.

Merlyn was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant and the Mt. Pleasant Masonic Lodge #8 AF & AM. Merlyn belonged to a local tractor club as he proudly collected Oliver tractors. He participated in numerous tractor pulls, winning several awards. He was also a member of a local antique car club. He prized his 1955 Chevrolet, because as Merlyn stated "I graduated that year!"