Martha E. Williams

1937 - 2021

Martha E. Williams
Martha E. Williams "Marrie", devoted and beloved mother of three children, passed away due to heart failure on March 3, 2021, at the age of 83.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at St. John's by the Campus Episcopal Church of Ames, with Rev. Kim Turner Baker officiating. Attendance will be limited to family members due to COVID restrictions, but the memorial service will be livestreamed and a link will be available on the Tribute Wall of Martha's obituary on the Adams Funeral Home website.
Marrie was born Martha Melbourne Evans in New York, NY on June 27, 1937, to Dr. Hubert Melbourne Evans and Lucy Ellen (Barlow) Evans. Hubert was a professor in the Teacher's College of Columbia University and Lucy was a Home Economics instructor.
Resident of Iowa since 1964, Marrie lived on a small acreage south of Ames for over 45 years where she was able to indulge her love of horses and the Iowa countryside. In 2016, she moved to Ames Village Cooperative where she enjoyed the friendship of many.
She worked at ISU for over 25 years, in various positions from Special Collections in the ISU library to a Lab Supervisor in the Archeology department and finally in the Zoology and Genetics Department as an Academic Advisor. She retired from the University in 2006.
With a profound passion for steam trains, spinning fleece, knitting, quilting, American history, architecture, British murder mysteries and all things handmade, Martha had a brilliant and curious mind and was a delight to know and to converse with. She was an active and faithful member of St. John's by the Campus since 1964.
Marrie was preceded in death by her father, Hubert, her mother, Lucy and her son, David Williams.
She is survived by the father of her children, Fred Williams of Oregon; her daughter, Ruth (Brian Swanson) Williams and their daughters, Daisy and Mia of Pacific Grove, CA and daughter, Claire (Brad) Reiman and their sons, Evan (Emily) Reiman and Lucas Reiman all of West Des Moines. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Beth Williams of Wisconsin and her three children, Melissa (Nathan Porter) Williams and their son, Hudson of Jacksonville, FL, Brenden (Katelyn) Williams and their two daughters, Elly and Gabby of Indianapolis, IN and Derrick (Sarah) Williams of Salt Lake City, UT.; special cousins, Chuck (Tina) Dunnington of Lottsburg, VA.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Adams Funeral Home and online condolences may be left to Marrie's family at www.adamssoderstrum.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad (https://bsvrr.com/wp/2223-2/) or St. John's by the Campus Episcopal Church, Ames, Iowa, 50010