Gary Russell Williams

Gary Russell Williams died at the age of 60 of natural causes in his own home. Gary was born on July 14, 1960 in Albany, NY, the son of the late Claude Williams, Jr. and the late Joan Marie (Fox) Williams in Albany, New York. He spent his formative years in Troy, NY and Wauwatosa, WI. He attended Lakeland University and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) where he majored in economics. His career began at the Stein & Day publishing company in Briarcliff Manor, NY. He left to join Michael Bland, CPA where he learned to analyze commercial real estate limited partnerships. Gary courted his wife Joy in New York City and California. The couple wed in her hometown of Elkhart Lake, WI in 1988. They made their first home together in Edison, NJ. Later Gary’s acumen in conducting market and financial analysis on potential investments was instrumental in closing deals for WAS Investors, Inc., Kaimor Management, Inc., Syndicat Financial Corporation, and Terracap Management, Inc. As an entrepreneur with his wife Joy by his side, he co-founded two companies: Southeast Processing, Ltd. in Atlanta, GA which cuts and packages fresh vegetables and Clancy’s Rib Company in St. Louis, MO. Upon the couple’s move to Southwest Florida in 2001, he became an independent commercial real estate advisor. Gary was an avid reader and a wonderful writer. He enjoyed hikes with his wife Joy and their English Springer Spaniel, Bentley, along the Hudson River Valley, watching baseball games, playing guitar, bicycling, and piloting his own airplane – a Beechcraft Musketeer. He was a deacon at Hope United Church and genuinely loved serving shut-ins and the youth group. At Summit Church, he served on the HIS team greeting visitors. He was a compassionate, charming, and faithful friend. He always thought of the rights and feelings of others before his own. He listened more than he spoke; however, when he did speak he revealed a very dry wit. He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years Joy (Hill) Williams, sister Patricia Ann (Williams) Schlosser, brother Cory Michael Williams, stepmother Ann (Schroeder) Williams, mother-in-law Marilyn Jean (Thompson) Hill, as well as in-laws: Charles “Chuck” Clarke Schlosser, Mark Richard Hill, Sr. & Patricia Jeanne (Eisenach) Hill, Kenneth Lyle Hill & Susan Marie (McDaniel) Hill, Richard “Rick” Earl Hill, Jr. & Lynn Marie (Hellhake) Hill, and Sarah Jean (Hill) Pasierb. Gary’s passing is mourned by his nieces and nephews: Pamela Sue (Schlosser) Propp & Ryan Christopher Propp, Mark Richard Hill, Jr. & Anna Elizabeth (Miller) Hill, Elizabeth Anne (Hill) Pothen & Patrick Michael Pothen, Katherine “Kate” McDaniel (Hill) Dragga & Christopher Calogere Dragga, Amy McDaniel (Hill) Cosimini & Charles “Chuck” Leonard McCaffery Cosimini, Grant Richard Hill & Melissa Bonnie (Packard) Hill, Kelsey Jean (Pasierb) Gant & Sean David Gant, Alaina Grace (Pasierb) Scherer & Benjamin Joseph Scherer, and Brett Callahan Pasierb as well as twelve grandnieces and grandnephews and eight cousins. Gary R. Williams (Fort Myers, FL) was predeceased by his parents Claude Williams, Jr., Joan Marie (Fox) Williams, father-in-law Rev. Dr. Richard Earl Hill, Sr., aunts and uncles Keith Robert Thompson, Charles Kenneth Thompson, Judy Marie (France) Thompson, Robert Weston Hill & Barbara (Kinney) Hill, John Tillson & Margie (Fox) Tillson, Donald Eugene Krall and his brother-in-law Patrick Thomas Pasierb. Gary loved borrowing books from our local library system, therefore any donation supporting youth reading programs would honor his memory. In the Fort Myers area, donations can be made to the Lee County Library System (Tax ID 59-6000702) at their website https://www.leegov.com/library/about/support/donations. Otherwise, you may choose to mail a check to: LCLS-Donations Lee County Library System-Donations 2345 Union Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 The family will receive friends, neighbors, and business contacts at a celebration of Gary’s life on the anniversary of his birthday July 17th, 2021. So please save the date. More details will be forthcoming. Bring a story and help us celebrate this loving husband, son, and brother. Condolences can be left on the Akin-Davis Funeral Home website.