Merle Dean Williams

Merle Dean Williams

Merle Dean Williams passed away unexpectedly Dec. 26, 2014, at home. Dean was born Sept. 17, 1928, in Ottumwa, Iowa. He was adopted by Floyd and Jennie (Haney) Williams. He grew up and graduated in Birmingham, Iowa, where he played basketball against the traveling Harlem Globetrotters. He met his wife, Takae (Shirley) Yamamoto while serving in the Army in Japan. They were married April 30, 1953, and returned to the United States, where they lived in Fort Madison, Iowa, Galesburg and Chicago before moving to Kansas City. He worked for Foremost Dairy and Country Club Dairy as a milkman until his retirement in 1978 from the Teamsters. He worked for Allied Callaway Equipment until his second retirement in 1993. After the death of his parents, he located his birth mother Vera (Mills) Troutwine and had a 26-year relationship with her and his birth family. He was a sweet man who never had an unkind word to say. He loved animals, especially horses, and would train (play) with them until they did what he wanted. He loved the Rodeo Kids and was their rodeo clown for many years. He also loved rodeo and could still score a ride as well as the judges. He was predeceased by his parents, wife, and daughter Diane. He is survived by his children: Gerald and Liz, Alan Williams, Jennifer and Don Lee; three grandchildren; his brother Bobby Troutwine, and close cousins, TJ and Johnnie Williams and Todd and CB Williams. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Royal Rodeo, the United Methodist Church in Birmingham or the charity of one’s choice.