C.H. Williams

C.H. (Clarence Henry) Williams, Jr., 85, Sedalia, died Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center.

He was born October 3,1935 in Pettis County, son of Clarence H. and Gladys (Payne) Williams. On December 12, 1954, at East Sedalia Baptist Church, he was united in marriage to Betty Lou Momberg, who preceded him in death.

C.H. was a 1952 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, where as a member of the baseball team he played in the 1952 MSHSAA baseball quarterfinals in Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. Following graduation, C.H. started farming full-time, continuing the dairying partnership he had begun with his father.

By 1976, the partnership had evolved from a dairy operation into Williams Family Farms, Inc., a diversified grain and livestock operation. C.H. served as president of William Family Farms, Inc. for more than 40 years, and in spite of the many challenges of operating a successful farming business, there was never a time C.H. regretted choosing this career. He remained actively involved in the Corporation until his death.

His passion for farming also led to years of involvement in many farming-related committees and organizations. C.H. served as an ASCS county committeeman, including 9 years as chairman, and as a ASCS community committeeman; a SWCD committeeman; a member of the Pettis County Cattlemen’s Assoc.; a MFA Oil Co. delegate and board member; and a member of the Pettis County Industrial Development Board. In addition, he served in the Missouri National Guard from 1954 – 1961, attaining the rank of Sgt. 1st Class, and serving on active duty during the 1954 Missouri State Penitentiary Riot.

C.H. was a member of East Sedalia Baptist Church, where he was ordained as a deacon in 1964. He also served as a Trustee, youth and adult Sunday School leader, member and chairman of numerous committees, and helped arrange and sponsor many youth group activities. In addition, he was a long-time choir member.

C.H. is survived by a daughter, Susan Lemler Meyer and her husband Jerry Meyer, of Sedalia; a son, Ted Williams and his wife, Merrilyn, of Sedalia; three granddaughters, Leslie Paredes, of Sedalia; Laura Goss and her husband Jeremy, of Cole Camp; and Melissa Shipman and her husband Wyatt, of Blue Springs; a step-granddaughter, Shelly Miller and her husband Duke, of Ft. Worth, TX; a step-grandson, Brandon Meyer and his wife, Gail, of Sedalia; four great-grandchildren; and five step-great grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, C.H. was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Elizabeth Chaney and her husband Willis, Joann Waters and her husband Joe; Peggy Curran and her husband Jack; brothers-in-law Bill Conklyn and Harold Momberg; and a son-in-law, Paul Lemler.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 19, 2021 at Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the funeral home with burial to follow in Hopewell Cemetery.  The service will be livestreamed on Heckart Funeral Home’s facebook page.  The family asks for everyone attending the visitation or funeral to please wear a mask.

Pallbearers will be Sam Young, Jerry Hoehns, Jesse Paredes III, Don Tatman, Roger Waters, and Bruce Wolfe.

Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons of East Sedalia Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, East Sedalia Baptist Church, or Hopewell Cemetery Association.