Ernest Williams

Ernest B. Williams, 82, of Troy, died on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005, at the Libby Care Center.

He was born on April 18, 1922, to Cleve and Francis Williams at Hazelwood, N.C., and spent his

childhood in North Carolina.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving in the Pacific during World War 11.

Ernie was honorably discharged in January 1946, and was married to Marie Anthony later that year.

He worked in construction as a heavy equipment operator, coming to the Troy area in 1957 to work in

construction and logging.

Ernie prospected in the area and was the original locater of the Asarco mine. He also prospected in the

area of the Grouse Mountain mine.

He operated Williams Manufacturing producing and selling mining implements.

Ernie also made custom hunting knives and as an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife Marie, Troy; children Francis Kuntz and her husband Raymond, Montpelier,

N.D.; Sandra Downey and her husband Gary, Libby; Bill Williams and his wife Becky, Troy; Darlene

McNaughton and her husband Ken, Juneau, Alaska; Candy Williams, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Dan Williams

and his wife Lola, Troy, and Jim Williams and his wife Valerie, Juneau; step-daughters Elsie Yates,

Montrose, Colo., and Judy Johnson and her husband Jack in Arkansas, sister Macie Williams, Waynesville,

N.C., and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Services were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev.

Gene Bushnell officiating.

Interment with military honors followed at Milnor Lake Cemetery.

Visitation was from 9 a.m. on Tuesday until service time.