Alan Mern Williams

Alan Mern Williams, 68, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 11, 2021, in Sandy, Utah from complications related to Parkinson’s Disease. Funeral services will be held at the Provo Peak 7th Ward Chapel, 502 E. 200 N., Provo, Utah on Saturday, November 20 at 11 a.m. Viewings will be held at that chapel on Friday, November 19 from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Fillmore City Cemetery in Fillmore, Utah at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 20. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to either the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund.

Alan was born August 16, 1953, in Tacoma, Washington to Tess Mern Williams and Maxine Hoggan Williams. Alan was the second child and only son born to Tess and Maxine. Shortly after Alan’s birth, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, then in 1960 to Orem, Utah, where his father taught at nearby Brigham Young University. Alan graduated from Orem High School in 1971 and attended BYU on a Karl G. Maeser Scholarship. He paused his studies from 1972-1974 to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the French Polynesia (Tahiti) Mission. He graduated from BYU in 1978, then enrolled in law school at the University of Utah and graduated in 1981. Upon passing the bar exam, Alan served in the U.S. Army Active Guard Reserve and spent nearly four years on active duty working in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 1985, he stepped back from active duty, moved his family back to Utah, and began practicing law in the public and private sectors. From 1989 until 2002, Alan worked as an attorney in Vernal, Utah. He then retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel, left the law profession, and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska to work for the Department of Homeland Security. In 2017, he retired from Homeland Security when his Parkinson’s Disease made it impossible to work professionally any longer.

Alan married Racquel Robison on October 16, 1980, in the Provo, Utah Temple and began a long and happy marriage. They had two children, Shandra Williams and Braden Mern Williams. Alan was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions in the church. In their later years, Alan and Racquel particularly enjoyed working together in the Winter Quarters Temple and serving in the small branches of the Lincoln, Nebraska Stake. They also regularly helped Alan’s mother, Maxine Williams, who spent her final years in senior living in Lincoln after her husband passed away.

Alan loved to read. As a child, he could almost always be found in his room with a book. This continued through his adult life whenever he could find a free moment to read. He also enjoyed the outdoors. He earned his Eagle Scout rank in high school and enjoyed serving in the Scouting program as an adult. He loved camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing with anyone willing to tag along. Alan loved studying maps and planning road trips, cruises, and any form of travel. He was also an avid golfer and frequently arranged golf tournaments for his buddies from Homeland Security. Although he was something of an introvert, he was also a great joker, as his children and nieces and nephew well remember. One of his greatest loves was music. He played the baritone in both his high school and college marching bands. He kept up his love for music by playing baritone and tuba in community bands in Vernal, Utah and in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also had a large collection of movies that kept him company during the frequent tornado warnings in Lincoln. One of his truest and greatest pleasures was to visit and plan adventures for his grandchildren.

Alan is survived by his wife, Racquel Robison Williams, his son Braden Williams (Rebecca Gustafson), his daughter Shandra Williams Hall (Lawrence Hall), his sister Dorice Williams Elliott (Robert Elliott), and five grandchildren—Caleb, Isaac, Anneliese, Ian, and Hugh Williams (and one more on the way).

The Williams Family would like to thank Liz and the nursing staff at Cedarwood Memory Care, as well as the staff at Canyon Home Care and Hospice—especially Mikey, Jen, Ashley, and Jeri—for their tireless care over the last several months.