Evanell Williams

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Evanell Williams, 84, of Litchfield, passed away 11:19 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, in St. John's Hospice in Springfield.

She was born in Carrier Mills on June 2, 1925, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Gee) Meler. She graduated from Galatia High School and from Business School in Springfield.

During World War II, Evanell was a "Rosie the Riveter" working at a defense contracting plant in Evansville, Ind.

She married Bennett J. "Ben" Williams on April 2, 1946, in Henderson, Ky. He survives.

Mrs. Williams worked at various jobs. While living in Harrisburg, she worked for Dr. Butler, Durham Lumber Co. and Woolworth's.

She and her husband Ben moved to Litchfield in January 1955. While in Litchfield, Mrs. Williams worked at WEPCO Mfg. and as a sales clerk in East St. Louis and St. Louis, Mo. She then went to work for the Illinois State Police as a police clerk working in District 18 in Litchfield and District 9 in Springfield. She retired from there after 30 years of service.

Mrs. Williams was a member of St. Timothy United Methodist Church, Litchfield Zonta Club and was a longtime volunteer for the Red Cross Blood Bank and served as the coordinator for several years. Mrs. Williams was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed fishing, hunting deer and wild turkey. She was one of the founding board members of the Illinois chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Additionally she loved to travel with her family and was very active with her husband with The United Mine Workers of America District No. 12.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Williams is survived by a son, James "Greg" (Susan) Williams of Litchfield; a daughter, Sandra Klein of Petersburg; a brother, Sigel Meler of Carrier Mills; two grandchildren, Benjamin Fletcher of Springfield and Haley M. Williams of Litchfield, and one great-grandson, Tommy Abner.

Mrs. Williams is preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Wilma Droit, Wanda Arnold and Reba Brothers.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. The Rev. James Tinzmann, pastor of St. Timothy United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Dr. Lonnie Laughlin of Living Stones Church, both in Litchfield, will co-officiate. Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to St. Timothy United Methodist Church or Montgomery County Cancer Association. To sign the online guestbook or light a virtual candle you may visit the Web site www.plummerfuneralservices.com.