Surrounded by his family, Clayton Digby Williams died on Jan. 18, 2008. He was born on Vashon on the Williams homestead on May 24, 1929, to Digby and Henrietta Williams.

Williams graduated from Vashon High School in 1947, graduated from Whitman College and served in the Army.

He married Elsa Mae Schmidt, and they shared 56 years together. She was the love of his life. Williams loved the Island and was very active in many community groups. He served both as a Vashon fireman and as commissioner for 12 years. The Masons, Kiwanis Club, Vashon Island Golf and Country Club and Quartermaster Yacht Club enjoyed and benefited from his membership.

Williams was honored to be the 2006 Strawberry Festival Grand Marshal. He owned Williams Heating and served hundreds of heating customers for more than 40 years. He actively supported and encouraged people in Alcoholics Anonymous. Volunteers for Granny’s Attic worked and laughed with him for the past several years.

Every Friday, Williams delivered food for lunch service at Vashon Senior Center. He volunteered to cook many meals for the Sportsman’s Club and Camp Burton.

He also drove the school bus for Camp Burton. He coached Little League baseball and ran the chains at the Vashon High School football games for 30 years.

Survivors include his sister Clara Jo Wilson, wife Elsa Mae Williams, daughter Corinne Kempton and her husband Ed, son Digby and his wife Pam and son Dennis and his wife Janet.

Other survivors include his grandchildren Sasha Altizer, Tyler and Jacob Broughton and Alex, Tommy, Sean, Laney and C.J. Williams, and his great-grandchildren Garrett and Collin Altizer.

A celebration of Williams’ life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Camp Burton.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Clayton Williams Sports Fund at US Bank, which will be used to support Vashon High School athletics, one of Williams’ favorite interests.