Courtney Williams

Courtney Lee Louise (Eldridge) Williams, 83, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Christmas Day, December 25, 2015 at Benefis Healthcare.Courtney was born in Memphis, Tennessee on February 6, 1932. At the age of 18, she joined the Air Force Reserve and met the love of her life, Clarence Bill Williams, a handsome Air Force fly boy from Mississippi. They married just days before her 19th birthday and spent the next 62 years making a life together, until Bill passed away in 2013.Bill made his career in the Air Force so they moved many times. He was often flying missions that took him away from his family for weeks or months at a time and during the Vietnam War for a full year. This left Courtney to function as both parents in his absence. She willingly accepted the role of a military wife. Upon his retirement, they returned to Montana and eventually settled in Great Falls.Courtney served many years with the Civil Service and retired in 1995. She belonged to the Hasaan Grotto. She was an active member of Westside Baptist Church for several years, then very active with First Southern Baptist Church for many more. She loved being a part of her church and had many special friends there, especially the ladies in the quilting group.She loved to sew, latch hook, crotchet, cross stitch, Hardanger and quilt. Courtneys home and the homes of her family were filled with many of the beautiful pieces of art that she created with her hands.Courtney is survived by her son, Kenneth (Diane) Williams of Great Falls; daughters Joanna (Jerry) McAllister of Great Falls and Beverly (Steve) Bracewell of Boise, ID; 9 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; brother-in-law Jack (Ursula) Williams of Waynesboro, MS; and many nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents Goldie and Amelia Eldridge; two brothers; and a sister.Visitation will be at Schnider Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. with interment in Highland Cemetery in the Veterans area. A celebration of life will follow at Schnider Funeral Home.