WILLIAMS, William Gareth 'Gary'

William Gareth (Gary) Williams-
March 6, 1936 – February 8, 2022

It is with heavy hearts we announce the death of William Gareth (Gary) Williams in his 86th year in Guelph, Ontario.

Born on March 6th, 1936, to parents Elizabeth Ann Williams (nee Jones) and Stanley Lloyd Williams in Timmins, Ontario.

From an early age Gary developed a love for the Canadian outdoors cultivated by his childhood on the family farm in Eastern Ontario. Memories of caring for animals, plowing, and planting fields, summer swims and trout fishing in Cold Creek, winter skating and tobogganing were part of his story and the source of his immense pride for the country of his birth. He had an affinity for his Welsh heritage too and throughout his life celebrated the symbols and traditions of Wales shared with him by his Welsh born parents.

A beautiful singing voice, a keen interest in pilot training, and a gifted athlete - these were the things that he was most known for as a young man. It was one of the greatest moments of his life when, after a national championship with the Toronto Parkdale Lions junior program, the Toronto Argonauts came calling in 1957. A recipient of the Eastern Conference Gruen Trophy for Rookie of the Year, it was the icing on the cake of his brief but gratifying professional football career.

In the years following Gary built a professional career in sales (in particular, medical equipment sales) and hospital administration (equipment procurement and protocols). Upon his “retirement” he went back to what he loved most by starting a tree care business, happy to be out of doors once again in the nature he loved, trimming trees.

A superb golfer, an avid world traveler/explorer, an accomplished builder of cottages and homes and an expert gardener - these were the interests that occupied his time and fed his soul for years.

Gary leaves behind the love of his life and partner for 48 years, Elizabeth Williams (nee Garrison), his daughter Julie Williams and her partner John Flemming, his son James Williams, and his adored grandchildren Rachel Flemming and Will Flemming.

He was predeceased by his parents Elizabeth and Stanley Williams, his brother Vern Williams, and very sadly, by his extraordinary daughter Janine Louise (Williams) Kilburn (1965-2005) and his niece Victoria Elizabeth (Williams) Gardner (1959-2019).

Our family would like to express profound thanks to the many gentle hands at Hospice Wellington in Guelph, Ontario who helped him pass from this world, in their amazing care, free of pain and worry. And to Home and Community Care and Support Services Waterloo/Wellington and the team of personal support workers who helped him navigate the challenges of his primary progressive aphasia diagnosis and declining health, to stay in his beloved home, we thank you. Your constant support allowed Gary to keep his independence, his sense of purpose and joy and we will not soon forget everything you did for him Theresa, Sofia, Holly and Courtney.

In keeping with Gary’s wishes, his brain and spinal cord have been donated to the UHN Canadian Concussion Centre in Toronto for research into the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury in sport and his cremation has taken place. His ashes will be laid to rest at Glenhaven Memorial Gardens, in Glenburnie, Ontario, in a private family gathering to be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made through donations to Hospice Wellington, Guelph, Ontario with thanks.