Obituary of Bill Williams

Bill Edward Williams Bill Edward "Wild Willy" Williams, 83, of Kingsport peacefully joined his many friends and family in heaven due to natural causes on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. He was born to John E. and Exie Pratt Williams on a farm in Carters Valley on November 6, 1930. On April 25, 1962 in Las Vegas, NV Bill married Shirley Ann Jephson Holder from Idaho Falls, ID. Bill was a professional Chef for over 40 years who loved having people enjoy his many recipes, BBQ Sauce, Salsa etc. He worked at the Flamingo, Las Vegas Hilton and Tropicana Hotels in Las Vegas, NV. At the Hilton he was Elvis Presley's personal chef and as executive chef at the Tropicana hotel, he was the only one on the Las Vegas Strip without a European Degree. Bill and Shirley came home town for a visit in 1999 and bought a house in Kingsport. Retirement was not for Bill so he opened a retail booth at Traders Village until he was eighty and they also featured "Wild Willy's BBQ and country cookin" in Church Hill. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Ms Jean Hill Green; his children, Howard Williams, David Williams, Shanda Ferry; siblings, Virginia Gilcreast, Mary Ferry, Dale W. Williams, Norman Williams, Carol Woods. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Ann Williams; children, Bonnie Marshall of Great Falls, MT, Randy A Holder of Kingsport, Michael L Holder of Oregon, and John Williams of Boise, ID; siblings, Curtis Williams and Lyndal Woods both of Boise, ID; along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren to whom he had an enduring relationship with and will be greatly missed. The family is holding a memorial for Bill, "A Celebration of Bill's Life" pot-luck luncheon Saturday April 12, 2014 at his granddaughter's Jessica's home, for all those who wish to attend please call 423-230-0995 for directions. Come hear many stories of how Bill was to all of us. Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the Williams family.