DONAVON (DON) RAMSAY ERNEST WILLIAMS

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DONAVON (DON) RAMSAY ERNEST WILLIAMS February 20, 1927 - February 8, 2005 Peacefully, Dad passed away at the Riverview Health Centre, at the age of 77 years, with family by his side. Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Lynda Williams (Jack), Tami Norget (John); grandchildren, Michael (Keri), Shawnne, Adam and Sarah and siblings, Dell (Jim), twin Patricia (Ted), Brian (Jeannine), Barclay, Nancy, Judy (Garry) and Sandy (Kerry). Don was born in Dominion City, MB to Alf and Eleanor Williams (nee Froom), in an upstairs bedroom in his grandmother's house. He grew up in Winnipeg, volunteering for the army in January 1943 at the age of 15, and serving as a trooper and tank gunner in England, Italy and Africa with the Little Black Devils until his discharge in 1946. In 1970, he returned to school and completed high school, then spent six months teaching an adult math class, a job he loved. He had several occupations during his working years, but his favourites included being a mail carrier, a mechanical draftsman, owning a ceramic greenware business, and being a bus driver for Winnipeg Transit, which he retired from in 1993. In his retirement years, he loved to golf, and would go out in almost any kind of weather. He enjoyed his kids and grandkids, carpentry, music, singing, dancing, visiting with friends and family, and especially being a Big Brother, until his illness prevented it. He was a loving, gentle, generous man, whose smile could light up a room and your heart, and who was known for his hugs and sense of humour. He enjoyed attending cursillos, the fellowship he shared with parishioners at St. Philip's Church, and with fellow veterans at St. Vital Legion, Minto Armouries, and special events for the Calgary Regiment, the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and the Little Black Devils. Heartfelt thanks to Don's brother Barclay, who faithfully visited and took Don out several times a week for the eight years of his illness, and who was a great source of support and encouragement for both Don and his daughter Tami. Special thanks, too, for the loving care given to Don by the B1 staff of Riverview Health Centre's Alzheimer's unit, to Dr. Nguyen, for his kindness and empathy during the last stages of Don's illness, and to Karen and Laurane for their love, humour, and encouragement throughout the last eight years. All of you made Don's time at Riverview easier and happier. A celebration of Don's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 18 at St. Philip's Church, Tache and Eugenie. Interment will take place in Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens. A gathering of family and friends will follow in the reception centre. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either The Alzheimer's Society or Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Winnipeg. The best gift that you could give the family, is to share your memories of Don with them. Arrangements entrusted to: GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 455 LAGIMODIERE BLVD. 982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 15, 2005