Obituary: Tommy Gene Williams
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Tommy Gene Williams, 64 of De Soto, died peacefully on June 27, 2012, in Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, surrounded by his family.
Tommy was born Oct. 4, 1947, to the late Adriel "Slick" and Hattie (Smith) Williams. Tommy served his country during Vietnam in the Army. He graduated from Ridgway High School and later from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree.
He retired from Southern Illinois University, working in administration. He loved to read, tinker with projects and especially loved to farm. He was a good father, brother, son, grandfather and friend and will be missed.
Tommy is survived by a son, Ryan (Carrie) Williams of Carterville; a daughter, Laura (Bret) Elwood of De Soto; two grandchildren, Coen Stinson and Adam Williams; and his loving brother, Terry (Kathy) Williams of Ridgway.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral service for Tommy will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at the Cox and Son Funeral Home in Ridgway with the Rev. Chad Everett officiating. The family will receive friends for visiting from 10 a.m. until service time on Saturday. Interment will follow in the Asbury Cemetery and full military rites will be performed at the grave. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to the Asbury cemetery in his memory.
You may leave a note of comfort to the family at the Internet site www.coxandson.com