Murl E. Williams, age 95, of Collegedale, Tennessee passed away at 8:16 a.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at his home.

Funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 4, 2015 at C & A Pagel Funeral Home in St. Elmo, Illinois with a two hour visitation prior to service.  Burial will be at Pilcher Cemetery.

Memorials may go to Pilcher Cemetery or donor’s choice.

Murl was born on March 18, 1920 in Otega Township, the son of John W. and Julia May Williams.  He attended Mahon School and Brownstown High School.  He married Evelyn Dunbar on January 18, 1941 in St. Charles, Missouri. Murl served in World War II in the Army Infantry.  He resided in St. Elmo, Illinois until moving to Lake Paradise, Mattoon, Illinois in 1962, and then Collegedale, Tennessee in 1965.  He served as a deacon and was a member of Standifer Gap Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 

Murl was employed at DuPont, Spain Construction Company, helped build the Brownstown High School, St. Elmo Refinery, Magnolia Oilfield, Williams Welding Service, Williams Trucking & Excavating, Distributor and semi-truck driver with McKee Baking Company.  He delivered rock for the construction of Carlyle Dam and was a partner in building spec homes.

Murl is survived by one son, Larry Williams of Collegedale, Tennessee; two daughters, Carol “Jeanne” (Jack) Summers of Vandalia, Illinois and Shirley Williams (who cared for him in his home until his death) of Collegedale, Tennessee; one brother, Dallas Williams (Mary) Williams of St. Elmo, Illinois; ten grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; one step-great-great-grandchild; many nieces and nephews and his dog and faithful companion, Emmy.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two sons, Murl Wayne Williams and Jimmy Williams; one daughter, Sandra Moore; one son-in-law, Russ Moore; grandson, Brandon Williams; step-grandson, Jason Wolfe and one great-granddaughter, Brittany Murphy.

 Service Information