Howard Williams

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Howard Ray Williams, age 83, of East Prairie passed away Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

He was born Aug. 6, 1939, in East Prairie, to the late Cecil Ray Williams and Alma Doris Edwards Williams. He was employed for 30 years by Edwards Transportation. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, riding in the country taking a “Sunday Evening Ride,” mechanic work, and most of all, spending time with his family. He was of Pentecostal faith.

On March 22, 1975, in East Prairie, he married Mary Earlene Brewer, who survives of the home.

Additional survivors include: three sons, Jimmy Wayne Williams of Sikeston, Howard Ray (Jennita Vernae) Williams Jr. of East Prairie and Cecil Earl (Brandi) Williams of Eldon; one brother, Charles Orlin Williams (Wanda) of Charleston, Missouri; one sister, Marilyn McCoy (Charlie) of East Prairie; seven grandchildren, Sarah, Levi, Brittany, Ceara, Nikki, Ashley and Preston; and several great grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one grandchild, Kylie; five brothers, Cecil Lee, Larry David, Ronald Ervin, Kevin Roy and Jerry Don Williams. One daughter-in-law, Ida Davis Williams, passed away Monday, Sept. 19, 2022.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. in the Shelby Chapel with Brother Sonny Jackson and Brother Mike Cartwright officiating.

Interment will follow in Dogwood Cemetery under the direction of Shelby Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be: Travis Raithel, Jared Jackson, Ronald Williams, Jason Jaco, “PeeWee” and Shawn Payne.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Jeremiah Williams, Alvin Hillis and Kenneth Duty.

Online condolences may be shared at: www.southernfuneralservices.com.