Obituary of Jean Palmer Williams

Jean P. Williams died unexpectedly at her home December 26, 2018 from a heart attack. She married Richard L. Williams, former Clinton mayor, in 1986 and has lived in Clinton ever since.

She was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on June 6, 1931 to Laura Alice Everingham and Avery Ray Palmer of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. Jean attended Ridgefield Park schools graduating as salutatorian in 1948. She entered New Jersey College for Women at Rutgers but transferred to Newark State Teachers College, now Kean University, where she graduated in the special education field. Later she received a Master’s degree from Syracuse University in special education.

Jean taught at Nedrow Elementary School and then at Lafayette Elementary School until her retirement in June 1986 when she married and moved to Clinton.

Living in LaFayette, NY between 1955 and 1986 Jean was active in the Columbian Presbyterian Church and LaFayette school affairs. In Clinton, Jean was an active member of the Clinton United Methodist Church and was president of the Friends of the Lutheran Homes in the 1990s. She belonged to the Clinton Historical Society and served as its secretary 1988-1991.                  

Spending parts of each summer at the family camp on 4^th Lake were particularly enjoyable for Jean where she was also active at the Big Moose Community Chapel

Surviving besides her husband, are her brother and sister-in- law William and Doris Palmer of Sun City Center, Florida, nieces Cindy Palmer of Tampa, Florida, Judy Ehrensbeck of Old Forge NY, Carol Harper of Smithfield, SC, Cindy Johnson of Golden, CO,  Nancy Stevens, Whiteville, NC, Susan Knop, Elkhorn, NE,  Patricia Palmer, Champions Gate, FL Lila Weber, Atlanta, GA.and nephews Esteban Perez of St. Petersburg, FL, Ken Palmer of Wayne, NJ, Dan Roberts of Old Forge, NY,  Peter Roberts of Cleveland, NY, Stephen Roberts of Selma, NC, and Paul Roberts of Roseville, CA.

Special cousins who were very important in her entire life were Shirley North, Phyllis Irwin, Arlington and Eva Palmer, and Sumner Palmer of Lafayette, and Charlotte Park of Syracuse. She was predeceased by her niece Eileen Handin, and special Everingham cousins Robert Everingham, Robert Everingham, Jr. and Alice Denneville.

Friends may call Thursday, January 3, 2019 at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, 35 College Street in Clinton between 1 and 3 PM. Kindly omit flowers. Jean was cremated and will be interred in the Deansboro Cemetery in the spring at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations may be made to the Clinton United Methodist Church, 105 Utica Road, Clinton, NY 13323.