Jim Williams

Jim Williams passed away with his family by his side on March 11, 2016. He was one month shy of 89 years old.

Jim was born in Renton, Washington, on April 8, 1927, and grew up in the home of his mother, Anna Phinney, and stepfather, Harold “Buck” Phinney. He met Mary Monaghan at Renton High when they were both 16 years old. He left high school in April of his senior year (1945) to join the Navy and was a proud World War II veteran.

Jim and Mary got married in 1947 while Jim was taking courses and playing football at Napa Junior College in Napa, California. He went on to study and play football at the University of Southern California. After he graduated, he and Mary went back to Napa, where he began a 36-year teaching and coaching career and they raised their five children.

Mary passed away in December 2009. Jim was also preceded in death by his sister, Sally McKiernan, and his brother Tom Phinney. He is survived by his brother Al Williams of Port Orchard, Washington, and his children, Marlene Larkin of Puyallup, Washington; Judy Flynn of Santa Barbara, California; Jon Williams (Missy) of Napa, California; Gary Williams (Beth) of Napa, California; and Greg Williams of Seattle, Washington. He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He has many family members in Renton and the surrounding areas, including his cousins Jack and Gary Morrison and his sister-in-law Shirley Phinney as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Although they lived elsewhere most of their adult lives, Jim and Mary always felt strong ties to their hometown of Renton, where they began their lives and their journey together, and they were proud members of the Renton Historical Society. Their children are memorializing them at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Renton, among the final resting places of many of their family members.