Ferryl “Joy” Williams, age 88 of Helena, passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2013. She was born to the late Robert James Gardner and Rose Ella Dowd on April 18, 1925 in Seattle, WA.
Joy grew up and attended school in Everett, WA along with two sisters, Fern and Ila Mae. At the age of 18 she was a welder in the shipyards during World War II. She married and moved to the Silver Valley in Northern Idaho where she raised four children — Robert Waldvogel and Sue Done (both who preceded her in death), Mark Williams (DuBois, Idaho) and Becky Thomas (Helena).
Joy resided in the Silver Valley until moving to Montana in 1976, where she and her family made their home on the Sieben Livestock Company near Cascade, Montana. She later moved to Great Falls and worked several years as the coordinator for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Her last years were lived in Helena during which time she was better known as “Grandma Joy” in her role as a foster grandmother at Hawthorne and Bryant Elementary schools.
Joy carried a passion for hard work and community involvement having served as den mother for the boy scouts, troop leader for girl scouts, and church volunteer. She loved nature and the outdoors.
Joy was proud of her 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
There will be a private graveside service at Forestvale Cemetery, Helena.
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