Donald Lee "Pete" Williams

Donald Lee "Pete" Williams, age 66, a resident of rural Deerfield, died Friday evening at the Nevada Regional Medical Center Emergency Room, following injuries received in a motor vehicle accident near Deerfield. He was born Sept. 4, 1944, in Deerfield, Mo., the son of Orman Virgil and Lula Mae Williams. Pete graduated from the Girard High School and later enlisted together with his twin brother, Ron, with the United States Navy. They served for four years during the Vietnam War; Pete achieved the rank of Second Class Petty Officer. Following their time in the service, the Williams brothers independently owned and operated their own trucking company. Pete later worked for several years as a heavy equipment operator for Bill's Coal Company. For more than 20 years, Pete and Ron hauled classified freight for the United States Government where they were granted access to many high level security installations. Pete enjoyed stock car racing as well as golfing and motorcycling. He was a member of the Richards Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include his twin brother, Ron Williams and wife, Jane, Fort Scott, Kan., and a sister, Arlene Thomson, Las Vegas, Nev. Also surviving are his nieces and nephews, Mark Thomson and wife, Shin Shin, Leah Yamazaki and husband, John, and Lori Stephenson, all of Las Vegas, Nev., and Daniel Williams and wife, Taira, Fort Scott, Kan., Lisa Stuever and husband, Russell, Guthrie, Okla., Tom Anderson and wife, Angie, Smithville, Mo., and Tracy Perry and husband, Josh, Clinton, Mo. Also surviving is his special friend and soul mate, Shirley Allen, Deerfield; her children, Cindi Gill and husband, Leon, Richards, Mo., Chris Allen and wife, Sharla, Nevada, Mo., and Craig Allen and wife, Michelle, Hume, Mo.; and nine great-nieces and nephews. He was also referred to as Papa Pete by numerous extended family members and friends.

The Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Community Christian Church, 1919 Horton, Fort Scott, Kan. Burial with Masonic rites and military honors will follow in the Worsley Cemetery near Bronaugh, Mo.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Shrine Transportation Fund c/o Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.cheneywitt.com.