James "Jim" Williams

James E “Jim” Williams was born in Picher, Ottawa, Oklahoma in Aug 1932. He moved with his family to Kingman, Arizona when he was about 12 yrs old. He graduated from Kingman High School. He married Laquita Briggs in July 1951 and they had 4 children, Sandy, Warren James, Jeffrey and Ellen. He joined the U. S. Air Force and was honorably discharged when he had to return home to help support his parents when his step-father, Warren J Wright got too sick to work. He described Warren as “the finest man” he ever knew and the best father a person could ask for. Jim joined the Arizona Highway Patrol in 1955 and started working out of Seligman on Route 66. Jim and Laquita divorced in 1957 and he married Charlotte Chance nee Garret about 1960 and she brought a daughter, Debbie to the marriage. This marriage also ended in divorce in about 1970. Jim married Connie Keeton nee Ferrin in 1971. He retired as a Sgt after 20+ yrs of honorable service with the Highway Patrol/Department of Public Safety. After retirement he moved to Oklahoma to work with a brother, William Noah Hicks. Returning to Arizona, he worked in a variety of security and investigative jobs, including as a Captain of Security at Veterans Memorial Coliseum for 13yrs, retiring from there at the age of 65. Jim died on 26 June 2020 at John C Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Jim is survived by his wife of 48+ yrs, Connie Marie nee Ferrin, his daughter, Sandy Slack nee Williams (Steve), sons Warren James “Jim” Williams, Jeff Williams (Cindy nee Fox), and daughter Ellen Richardson nee Williams, 22 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren with a great grandchild and great great grandchild on the way. Jim has been and will continue to be a great example to his children and grandchildren and a trusted friend to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed. His was a life of service and was always willing to respectfully listen and give a helping hand to those that needed it. Jim was a lifetime member of the Arizona Highway Patrol Association and the Fraternal Order of Police and the Coalition of DPS Retirees. He was also a lifelong member of the B.P.O.E. (Elks Club) and helped establish the club in Holbrook, Arizona. When he was your friend, he was your friend to the end. Interment will be 8 July 2020 at 10 am at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on Cave Creek Road with flag presentations from the US Air Force and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Menke Funeral Home in Sun City, AZ made the arrangements.