Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The death occurred in the Proserpine District Hospital on 12th February of Mr. John Williams, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife and ten children, namely Messrs.  Norman and Noel (Townsviile), Fred, Joe and Victor (Lethebrook) and Mesdames W. Burkitt (Townsville), Ray Shutt (USA), J. Yuskan (Cannon Valley) and Miss  Peggy Williams  (Lethebrook).
Owing to the serious illness of the late Mr. Williams, a cable was sent to another son, Bill, who is with the Occupation Forces in Japan, and it is understood that he is flying home but unfortunately he will be too late to see his father again. Another daughter, Nell, pre-deceased her father in 1927 following a tonsil operation. Mr. Williams, who was born in Victoria, was 71 years of age. He came to Queensland as a young man and secured work on sheep stations in the Julia Creek district, an occupation which he followed for many  years. Whilst in the district he met Miss E. M. Batten and they were married at Charters Towers in 1906, after which they returned to the Julia Creek district and remained there  for several years.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams then came to Proserpine and lived at Conway for about six months before going to reside at Lethebrook, where they lived throughout the ensuing years. Mrs. Williams was the first white woman to take up residence in the Lethebrook district. During their long association with the district they reared a large family and made many life- long friends. The funeral moved from the Church of England to the Proserpine cemetery, the Rev. D. C. Blake officiating at the services.