Florence Iona Williams

03/15/1913 - 02/23/2011

WILLIAMS, Florence Iona
(Age 97)

Florence Iona Williams passed away February 23rd at her home in Coeur d'Alene. She was born March 15, 1913 to William Arthur Adams and Lillie Pearl (Reese) Adams in Rantoul, Franklin County, Kansas. The family moved to Russell, Kansas when Florence was in elementary school. She graduated from Pioneer School in Bunker Hill, Kansas in Russell County in 1928. She worked as a maid for a few families around Russell until moving to Missoula, Montana during the Dust Bowl in 1936. There she worked as a housekeeper for the Dr. Patrick Murphy family from 1936-1943.

She then moved to Spokane where she worked at the Ohio Match Company for several years; she met her husband Walter there. They were married September 28, 1953. Florence was employed at W.T. Grants Co. in 1955. In 1970, her husband Walter passed away. Florence continued to live and work in Spokane, retiring from W.T. Grants in 1976. Florence moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1999 to be closer to her family there.

In her leisure time, Florence enjoyed fishing and traveling. She was fond of photography and in addition to her human subjects, filled several albums with photographs of flowers. She relished working with her hands and expressed her artistic sensibilities with crochet work, embroidery and plastic canvas work, as well as painting ceramics.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband, parents, five brothers, nine sisters and numerous nieces and nephews. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and their descendants.

Viewing will be from 9:00 am until 10:00 am with Funeral Service beginning at 10:00 am Tuesday March 1, 2011 at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel. Graveside Service will follow at 2:00 pm at Spokane Memorial Gardens in Spokane. YATES FUNERAL HOME, COEUR D'ALENE CHAPEL , is entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Florence's online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com