IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Sheila Williams
Services for Sheila Marie (Weber) Williams, 55, who departed this earthly home Sept. 20, 2024, at Salina Regional Health Care, will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Florence.
Visitation will be 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the church, with Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be at Marion Cemetery after the service.
Please join the family at Holy Family Activity Center, 415 N. Cedar St., Marion, for lunch after burial.
Sheila was born Aug. 5, 1969, at Axtell Hospital, Newton, the first-born daughter of Bernard and Donna (Herzet) Weber.
Her biggest delight in childhood was going to Grandpa and Grandma Tom and Alberta Herzet’s farm, playing with sisters Julie and Carolyn and her many cousins, going fishing in Bruno Creek, and learning from her grandma how to become a most outstanding cook — a trait she used throughout her life.
She also enjoyed going to Grandma Weber’s to help with chores. She had a special love for Grandma Weber and faithfully loved her until the end of Grandma’s life.
Sheila attended Florence Elementary School and graduated from Marion High School in 1987.
On Sept. 12, 1987, she married Benny Pontious at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Florence.
This union was blessed with three children, Alycia, Ethan, and Taylor.
They later separated and divorced. Sheila married Doug Williams of Marion, and they were blessed with a daughter, Tristan, who joined a brother, Travis Williams.
With five children in the home plus babysitting kids, it was a very busy household.
As the children got older, Sheila joined Doug in working at Mackey and Sons in Newton for a time.
Sheila was deli manager at Carlsons’ Grocery for many years and continued to work there after Doug’s sudden death. She enjoyed seeing and visiting with community members who came into the store for their weekly groceries.
She also worked as a cook at Centre High School and finally as office manager of Homestead Living in Marion.
Sheila’s greatest love was for her kids as well as caring for and raising Dirk Young.
She was passionate about life, loving her grandchildren, planning visits from them, making crafts, and helping them make toys.
Christmas was the most special time for her. She never missed a Christmas feast and gifts at her humble childhood home in the Flint Hills.
She lovingly was called Grammy by grandchildren Bentley and Thomas Turner; Maverick and Lillian Pontious; Grayson, Oakland, and Tate Craft; Alice and Caroline Young; and Sophia Williams.
Sheila always wanted to travel and was able to enjoy a couple of trips to the mountains.
In August, 2022, Sheila was diagnosed with cancer, which she determinedly fought till her last days.
Sheila was proceeded in death by dad Bernard Weber; stepdad Delmer Fink; husbands Doug Williams and Benny Pontious; grandparents Tom and Alberta Herzet and Raymond and Gertrude Weber; and father-in-law Dean Williams.
She is survived by mother Donna Fink of Florence; sisters Julie Shaw (and husband Troy) of Emporia and Carolyn Bell (and husband Mike) of Ogallala, Nebraska; children Alycia Turner (and husband Timmy) of Hamilton; Ethan Pontious (and wife Becca) of Newkirk, Oklahoma; Taylor Pontious of Marion; Tristan Mallory (and husband Calib) of Manhattan; Dirk Young (and wife Christina) of Emporia; and Travis Williams of Wichita; mother-in-law Wanda Williams of Marion; beloved companion Charlie Svoboda of Lincolnville; and a host of relatives and friends.
Memorials can be made in her name to Salina Regional Health’s Rebecca Morrison House, Newton Medical Center’s Cancer Center of Kansas, Victory in the Valley of Wichita, or St. Luke Hospital in Marion.
Yazel-Megli Funeral Home is serving the family.
Please take time and sign Sheila’s guestbook at yazelmeglifh.com.