The White Mountain Independent,
Show Low, Arizona ~ 02/13/2015
Rema Marie McWilliams, of Lakeside died Feb. 6, 2015, after a long courageous battle against cancer. She went to be with her Lord peacefully surrounded by her family.
Rema was born Nov. 1, 1930, in Knoxville, Tenn., to John Buford Hancock and Alice Mae Tarwater.
She was the oldest of 18 children: six brothers, seven sisters, three stepsisters and one stepbrother.
In 1947 she married Harry Sharp and together they had four children, Butch, Eva, Patty and Nancy. They moved to Detroit, Mich., where she worked as a waitress in very high class restaurants.
In 1967, she married Frank Sussan and they had one daughter, Francine before moving to Tucson to escape the riots and for health reasons. While in Tucson she worked as a waitress at Sambo’s and then Levy restaurants.
She married Carl McWilliams in 1974 and they eventually retired and moved to the White Mountains of Arizona, living in Lakeside. They both enjoyed the area and the fishing. They enjoyed going to church and praising the Lord. While in Lakeside she joined the Living Church, helping with the children’s church, leading the singles group, new ministries and cleaning.
She worked as a day care worker for children and then as a home health provider for the elderly. She enjoyed making crosses and handing them out to all she came in contact with.
Rema was preceded in death by her parents; husband Carl McWilliams; three sisters, Barbara Kirkland, Cynthia Fox and Carol Thurmond; as well as three brothers, James, Charles and Dennis Hancock.
She is survived by four sisters, Bobbie Kirkland, Rosalie Robinson, Alice Hancock and Janie Frank; three brothers, Eugene, Donald and Eddie Hancock; three stepsisters, Wanda, Brenda and Judy; stepbrother Tommy; son Harry “Butch” (Dawn) Sharp; daughters Eva (Les) Ayres, Patty (Carl) Lambert, Nancy (Rex) Stevens and Francine (Scot) Stecher; stepdaughters Carol Ritter and Marlene McKinnon; 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren; and her pet dove, “Rooster.”
To her dear family friend, Carol Milek, who was with her during her valiant battle with cancer, making her last year comfortable; granddaughter Tia Heath, who worked tirelessly to help her in her final year of struggles, and the Stechers for opening up their hearts and homes for her during her illness, you are much appreciated for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Bless you all.
God bless all the staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Banner Hospital of Gilbert and Acuity Specialty Hospital of Sun City. Flowers would be nice but please consider donations to the MD Anderson Cancer Center or American Cancer Society in Rema’s name.
A viewing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Living Church, 3072 Lockwood Drive, in Lakeside, with funeral services to follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in the Lakeside Cemetery.
Show Low, Arizona ~ 02/13/2015
Rema Marie McWilliams, of Lakeside died Feb. 6, 2015, after a long courageous battle against cancer. She went to be with her Lord peacefully surrounded by her family.
Rema was born Nov. 1, 1930, in Knoxville, Tenn., to John Buford Hancock and Alice Mae Tarwater.
She was the oldest of 18 children: six brothers, seven sisters, three stepsisters and one stepbrother.
In 1947 she married Harry Sharp and together they had four children, Butch, Eva, Patty and Nancy. They moved to Detroit, Mich., where she worked as a waitress in very high class restaurants.
In 1967, she married Frank Sussan and they had one daughter, Francine before moving to Tucson to escape the riots and for health reasons. While in Tucson she worked as a waitress at Sambo’s and then Levy restaurants.
She married Carl McWilliams in 1974 and they eventually retired and moved to the White Mountains of Arizona, living in Lakeside. They both enjoyed the area and the fishing. They enjoyed going to church and praising the Lord. While in Lakeside she joined the Living Church, helping with the children’s church, leading the singles group, new ministries and cleaning.
She worked as a day care worker for children and then as a home health provider for the elderly. She enjoyed making crosses and handing them out to all she came in contact with.
Rema was preceded in death by her parents; husband Carl McWilliams; three sisters, Barbara Kirkland, Cynthia Fox and Carol Thurmond; as well as three brothers, James, Charles and Dennis Hancock.
She is survived by four sisters, Bobbie Kirkland, Rosalie Robinson, Alice Hancock and Janie Frank; three brothers, Eugene, Donald and Eddie Hancock; three stepsisters, Wanda, Brenda and Judy; stepbrother Tommy; son Harry “Butch” (Dawn) Sharp; daughters Eva (Les) Ayres, Patty (Carl) Lambert, Nancy (Rex) Stevens and Francine (Scot) Stecher; stepdaughters Carol Ritter and Marlene McKinnon; 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren; and her pet dove, “Rooster.”
To her dear family friend, Carol Milek, who was with her during her valiant battle with cancer, making her last year comfortable; granddaughter Tia Heath, who worked tirelessly to help her in her final year of struggles, and the Stechers for opening up their hearts and homes for her during her illness, you are much appreciated for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Bless you all.
God bless all the staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Banner Hospital of Gilbert and Acuity Specialty Hospital of Sun City. Flowers would be nice but please consider donations to the MD Anderson Cancer Center or American Cancer Society in Rema’s name.
A viewing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Living Church, 3072 Lockwood Drive, in Lakeside, with funeral services to follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in the Lakeside Cemetery.
The White Mountain Independent,
Show Low, Arizona ~ 02/13/2015
Rema Marie McWilliams, of Lakeside died Feb. 6, 2015, after a long courageous battle against cancer. She went to be with her Lord peacefully surrounded by her family.
Rema was born Nov. 1, 1930, in Knoxville, Tenn., to John Buford Hancock and Alice Mae Tarwater.
She was the oldest of 18 children: six brothers, seven sisters, three stepsisters and one stepbrother.
In 1947 she married Harry Sharp and together they had four children, Butch, Eva, Patty and Nancy. They moved to Detroit, Mich., where she worked as a waitress in very high class restaurants.
In 1967, she married Frank Sussan and they had one daughter, Francine before moving to Tucson to escape the riots and for health reasons. While in Tucson she worked as a waitress at Sambo’s and then Levy restaurants.
She married Carl McWilliams in 1974 and they eventually retired and moved to the White Mountains of Arizona, living in Lakeside. They both enjoyed the area and the fishing. They enjoyed going to church and praising the Lord. While in Lakeside she joined the Living Church, helping with the children’s church, leading the singles group, new ministries and cleaning.
She worked as a day care worker for children and then as a home health provider for the elderly. She enjoyed making crosses and handing them out to all she came in contact with.
Rema was preceded in death by her parents; husband Carl McWilliams; three sisters, Barbara Kirkland, Cynthia Fox and Carol Thurmond; as well as three brothers, James, Charles and Dennis Hancock.
She is survived by four sisters, Bobbie Kirkland, Rosalie Robinson, Alice Hancock and Janie Frank; three brothers, Eugene, Donald and Eddie Hancock; three stepsisters, Wanda, Brenda and Judy; stepbrother Tommy; son Harry “Butch” (Dawn) Sharp; daughters Eva (Les) Ayres, Patty (Carl) Lambert, Nancy (Rex) Stevens and Francine (Scot) Stecher; stepdaughters Carol Ritter and Marlene McKinnon; 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren; and her pet dove, “Rooster.”
To her dear family friend, Carol Milek, who was with her during her valiant battle with cancer, making her last year comfortable; granddaughter Tia Heath, who worked tirelessly to help her in her final year of struggles, and the Stechers for opening up their hearts and homes for her during her illness, you are much appreciated for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Bless you all.
God bless all the staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Banner Hospital of Gilbert and Acuity Specialty Hospital of Sun City. Flowers would be nice but please consider donations to the MD Anderson Cancer Center or American Cancer Society in Rema’s name.
A viewing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Living Church, 3072 Lockwood Drive, in Lakeside, with funeral services to follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in the Lakeside Cemetery.
Show Low, Arizona ~ 02/13/2015
Rema Marie McWilliams, of Lakeside died Feb. 6, 2015, after a long courageous battle against cancer. She went to be with her Lord peacefully surrounded by her family.
Rema was born Nov. 1, 1930, in Knoxville, Tenn., to John Buford Hancock and Alice Mae Tarwater.
She was the oldest of 18 children: six brothers, seven sisters, three stepsisters and one stepbrother.
In 1947 she married Harry Sharp and together they had four children, Butch, Eva, Patty and Nancy. They moved to Detroit, Mich., where she worked as a waitress in very high class restaurants.
In 1967, she married Frank Sussan and they had one daughter, Francine before moving to Tucson to escape the riots and for health reasons. While in Tucson she worked as a waitress at Sambo’s and then Levy restaurants.
She married Carl McWilliams in 1974 and they eventually retired and moved to the White Mountains of Arizona, living in Lakeside. They both enjoyed the area and the fishing. They enjoyed going to church and praising the Lord. While in Lakeside she joined the Living Church, helping with the children’s church, leading the singles group, new ministries and cleaning.
She worked as a day care worker for children and then as a home health provider for the elderly. She enjoyed making crosses and handing them out to all she came in contact with.
Rema was preceded in death by her parents; husband Carl McWilliams; three sisters, Barbara Kirkland, Cynthia Fox and Carol Thurmond; as well as three brothers, James, Charles and Dennis Hancock.
She is survived by four sisters, Bobbie Kirkland, Rosalie Robinson, Alice Hancock and Janie Frank; three brothers, Eugene, Donald and Eddie Hancock; three stepsisters, Wanda, Brenda and Judy; stepbrother Tommy; son Harry “Butch” (Dawn) Sharp; daughters Eva (Les) Ayres, Patty (Carl) Lambert, Nancy (Rex) Stevens and Francine (Scot) Stecher; stepdaughters Carol Ritter and Marlene McKinnon; 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren; and her pet dove, “Rooster.”
To her dear family friend, Carol Milek, who was with her during her valiant battle with cancer, making her last year comfortable; granddaughter Tia Heath, who worked tirelessly to help her in her final year of struggles, and the Stechers for opening up their hearts and homes for her during her illness, you are much appreciated for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Bless you all.
God bless all the staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Banner Hospital of Gilbert and Acuity Specialty Hospital of Sun City. Flowers would be nice but please consider donations to the MD Anderson Cancer Center or American Cancer Society in Rema’s name.
A viewing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Living Church, 3072 Lockwood Drive, in Lakeside, with funeral services to follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in the Lakeside Cemetery.
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