Marlys Williams

Marlys Anne Williams passed away Sunday, August 11th, 2013 after a 17 month battle with brain cancer. She was born Marlys Anne Carpenter to George and Beverly Carpenter on May 8th, 1948, in Des Moines, Iowa. Marlys was raised on a dairy farm outside of Pleasantville, Iowa. She graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1966, and married Dennis Williams of Pleasantville on September 3rd, 1966. She and Dennis attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO. After graduation, they moved to Whitewater, WI before settling in Ankeny, IA for 30 years. Marlys taught in the math department at Ankeny High School before leaving to own and operate Photographic Enterprises with Dennis. In 2006, they moved to Commerce City, CO to support their son and daughter in law in the starting of a church.

Marlys was a wonderfully caring woman, who was especially fond of helping teenagers. She financially supported many young people on missions trip and in the ministry. She also led small groups of teenagers, as well as groups for younger moms. She was always drawn to helping teenagers and young women in trouble, which was demonstrated by her volunteering and financial support of organizations with that mission.

She loved talking with anyone, laughing, and football of all kinds, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones. Most important to her was her faith in Jesus Christ, which was only deepened by her illness. She was an incredibly loving daughter, sister, aunt, mother, and wife. She will be terribly missed by all who knew her.

Marlys is survived by her husband of nearly 47 years, Dennis Williams, of Commerce City, CO; their two sons, Justin Heidi Williams and Jay Lauren Williams; three grandchildren, Silas, Judah, and Lydia, all of Commerce City; her mother, Beverly Wilson of Aurora, CO; her brother Bryan Ritaann Carpenter of Monument, CO; and sister Charis Bob Wendt of Ottawa, KS; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, George Carpenter.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, August 14th, 10:30am at Wellspring Community Church at 1072 Chambers Court, Aurora, CO 80011 and Friday, August 16th, 10:30am at Prairie Ridge Church at 825 NW 36th St, Ankeny, IA. In lieu of gifts and flowers, donations can be made to Colorado Family Life Center http://www.coloradofamilylife.org/ or Ruth Harbor http://www.ruthharborhome.blogspot.com/.