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The City of Mountain Home will be temporarily closing City Hall from noon to 2:30 p.m. to allow city employees to attend the funeral of Retired Mountain Home Fire Chief Ken Williams.
“It’s a tremendous loss to this community,” said Mountain Home Mayor Hillrey Adams. “He was a great servant to the City of Mountain Home with his career to the Mountain Home Fire Department.”
Kenneth (Ken) Lesley Williams, 62, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, passed away Friday, September 16, 2022, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Ken was born August 30, 1960, in Ruleville, Mississippi to Curtis L. and Mildred J. (Nell) Williams.
In April 1970, Ken’s parents moved the family to Gassville, Arkansas, where Ken attended Cotter Schools, and graduated in 1979.
Ken married the love of his life Laura Deatherage on April 10, 1981, in Clarkridge and soon after moved to Mountain Home, where he was employed by Harold Tucker Auto Parts and soon began volunteering between the Mountain Home Fire Department and Mountain Home Police Department. As fate would have it, Ken was hired on at the Mountain Home Fire Department, full time in 1987.
Later in his career he was promoted to Fire Inspector until he was appointed to Fire Chief in 2003. After 17 years as Fire Chief, Ken retired in June 2020.
Ken had a love of music and racing. He raced at Midway, Flippin, and West Plains for many years. He enjoyed playing music with his younger brother and sister-in-law of the Leslie Williams Band, sometimes singing a song or two, including “Amanda” by Waylon Jennings. His family, especially his sons and grandchildren were very important to him. He loved spending time with them, taking them on the lake and river and teaching his grandson, Kenson to play guitar.
There were frequent fish fries at Ken’s home or just sitting around the fire pit, or target practicing, enjoying not only family, but good friends as well. Any other spare time he had was spent in his shop tinkering with cars or other projects and volunteering his time to Kiwanis.
Ken is survived by his wife Laura of the home, sons; Justin (Kimberly) Williams, Heath (CeeCee) Williams, grandchildren; Madison, Kenson, Kelsey, Jordan and Jaycee Williams, Kaydence Estes, and Kingston Campbell, his mother; Mildred J. (Nell) Williams, sister; Pam (Curt) Dicks, brother; Lonnie (Leslie) Williams, and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins, one aunt and one uncle both from Mississippi. He is preceded in death by his dad; Curtis L. Williams, maternal and paternal grandparents, and brother Donnie Williams.
Visitation for Mr. Ken Williams will be held at the Mountain Home Church of Christ, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Following the visitation, a funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m.
Arrangements are under the care of Roller Funeral Home.
