James B. Williams Jr.

1933 - 2017

James B. Williams, Jr.

James B. Williams, Jr. died Oct. 22, 2017. Born in 1933 in Jamaica, NY to James Burton Williams, Sr. (Burt) and Gertrude (Conway) Williams. Graduated from NY public schools and Leehigh University, PA with a degree in Mining Engineering. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard before working in mines in West Virginia and Utah. He came to Nevada in 1956 to work for Kennicott Mining Co. in Ruth. While there he lived in a Basque boarding house and became an adopted Basque.

Following that he moved to Reno and was employed by the Nevada Bureau of Mines. When the engineers were transferred to Denver Jim elected to stay in Nevada and began a career with the State of Nevada, Division of Environmental Protection, which spanned 31 years. He was a registered professional engineer and rose to Chief of the Bureau of Water Pollution Control. After his retirement he and his friends remained in touch, going to lunch, playing poker and occasional get togethers. He was a volunteer with the Junior Ski Program. He loved the mountains and enjoyed skiing, hiking, backpacking and camping.

He was an artist and collector of Military figurines, painting and modeling hundreds of model soldiers, a hobby he began when he was 8 years old. He belonged to the Military Miniatures Society and was an avid student of Military History. Jim was a charter and longtime member of E Clampus Vitus, joining in 1962. He belonged to both Snowshoe Thompson and Julia Bulette Chapters becoming the 11th Noble Grand Humbug in 1972. He dedicated the Nevada Brewing Co. in Virginia City during his tenure.

"What say the Brethren?" Satisfactory! He was a loyal patron of the Liberty Belle Saloon where he and his wife of 50 years first met. Many good times were had and friends made.

He is survived by his wife Barbara and four children; James, Melissa, Peter, John. 8 grandchildren; John, Jennifer, Joshua, Aaron, Gabriel, Shannon, Sophia and Trevor. 7 greatgrandchildren; Natasha, Alex, Kiara, Isaac, Charlotte, Aivory and Grayson.

Jim was a good man, a steadfast and loyal caretaker of his family and is greatly missed.

May you be in Heaven a full half hour before the Devil knows you're dead!