Katherine Clyde Williams

Katherine Clyde Williams, a/k/a Katherine C. Williams, or Kay, was born Katherine Clyde Anderson, on December 27th, 1934, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Katherine Clyde (Crane) Anderson, and Roy Ainsley Anderson. Katherine graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School in 1953, and in 1954 she married Paul Averill Williams, who predeceased Katherine in 2012. Paul and Katherine had three children, Eric David Williams (Jane), Gregory Francis Williams, and Monica Downer, and 10 grandchildren: Rachel Marie Williams, Rebecca Ann Jackson Williams, Adam Joseph Williams, Edward Paul Williams, Eric Anthony Williams, Mary Katherine Williams, Elizabeth Jane Williams Steagald, and great grandson, Joshua James Williams, Clinton Downer, Sharon Downer, and Jessica Williams, 14 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. Katherine graduated from St. Mary's Hospital with a nursing degree, and while raising her children, she graduated from Aquinas College with a teaching degree. While at Aquinas she ran her own free preschool and then taught elementary school in South Haven. Paul and Katherine were dedicated to, and active in, the civil rights and world peace movements and involved their children as they protested against the Vietnam War and racism. Katherine loved to swim laps in pools around Grand Rapids, so Paul built her an indoor pool at their home in Grand Rapids, where she swam a mile or more per day for twenty years before relocating to Gulfport and Long Beach, Mississippi where she ran a crabbing business using her boat and her fishing camp on stilts on the bayou where she fed alligators off her dock. Favorite vehicles to drive were her MGB roadster, Volkswagen Beetles, Toyota Tercels and Tacoma truck, which she shifted without always putting in the clutch and occasionally parked without setting the brake. Following Hurricane Katrina, Katherine retired again to their hobby farm property in Big Prairie Township outside of White Cloud, Michigan, where she grew fields of sunflowers, gardened, hiked with her cats and dogs, spotted a cougar and bears, and planted roses every year to see which varieties would survive the Michigan winters. She planted butterfly weed before it became popular, and bittersweet vines and morning glories before they were labeled invasive species. She planted milkweed and purchased live Monarch butterflies that she would release. She loved birds and wildflowers, was a talented photographer, and could cook like a champ. Katherine loved all creatures and considered life to be a precious gift, feedings birds, stray cats, bears, and one mountain lion that the DNR did not acknowledge existed in Newaygo County, Michigan. She loved Books A Million, listening to folk, blues and classical music, and reading and writing haiku poems. A Haiku for Mom -by Greg Ocean wave rider Smiling to the rising sun Thank you for your love! Gifts or donations can be made in Katherine’s name to the Humane Society of West Michigan OR the Michigan Humane Society though Michigan Humane www.michiganhumane.org/tributes/ to make a memorial gift. There will be visitation with the family and friends at the Arsulowicz Brothers East Mortuary at 937 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 on Saturday, May 11th, 2024, 9:00 AM TO 12:00 Noon with a prayer service at Noon and a luncheon to follow at the nearby home of one Katherine's Grandchildren.

Tributes

Katherine Clyde Williams

December 27, 1934 - April 25, 2024