Pearl M. Williams

Pearl M. Williams, 94 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Little Falls Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN with Rev. Robert Olsen officiating. Burial will be at Moses Dane Cemetery in Burtrum, MN. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 A..M. on Saturday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel. Pearl Marjorie Gay was born on May 20, 1920 in Bemidji, Minnesota to the late Samuel and Lily (Mortensen) Gay. In 1935, the family moved to Burtrum, MN where she graduated from Burtrum High School. Pearl was a clerk for the Village of Burtrum for 18 years. She then went to the University of Minnesota for accounting. During WW II, she was employed by Northwest Bell Telephone Co, in St. Paul as a telephone operator. In 1944, she was united in marriage to Elmer Hardy and they lived in Burtrum. Elmer died in 1953. Pearl then married Leslie Williams in 1970, and the couple moved to Randall, MN, where he was a Superintendent of the school. Two years later, the couple moved to Becker, where they were both employed in the Becker school system. The couple later moved to Akron, IA, where Leslie was the pastor at the First Baptist Church for three years. Later, the couple moved back to the Becker community, where they were active in the Becker Baptist Church. Pearl taught Sunday School, was active in the Women’s Ministry, and served as treasurer of the church for 20 years. In 2000, she moved to Little Falls to be closer to her family members. Pearl was a member of the Women’s Relief Corp for 25 years during which she served in various capacities, including president of the local chapter and vice president of the district. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Grey Eagle, serving as their president. Pearl was very active in her local school districts. She was an Educational Secretary in Grey Eagle School District for 8 years, and 3 years in the Becker School District. Pearl was an avid quilter, especially enjoying the solitary time she could spend on her quilt frame. She also loved to crochet and knot, often giving her handiwork to the grateful members of her family. Reading was also another one of her favorite pastimes. Pearl is survived by son, Gordon (Audrey) Williams of Little Falls, MN; step-children, Leslie (Maxine) Williams, Jr. of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Douglas (Marian) Williams of Vancouver, WA; Judy Norris of CA; Donald (Sherilyn) Williams of Kettle Falls, WA; and Connie (John) Lein of Fort Myers, FL; sister, Caroline Ovitt of Hadley, NY; 22 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, as well as great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Elmer Hardy; daughter, Hannah Hardy; second husband, Leslie Williams; brothers, Herbert, Charlie, and Robert Gay; sisters, Frances Rogers, Florence Payne, Lottie Pearson, and infant sister, Myrtle Gay.

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Pearl M. Williams

May 20, 1920 - January 5, 2015