DODGEVILLE/MONROE - Leila A. (Van Epps) Williams, age 87, of Dodgeville, formerly of Monroe, passed away on Friday, December 10, 2010 at Bloomfield Manor.
It all began on July 20, 1923, when I was born at the Marshfield Hospital to Martha (Waldhart) and Art Van Epps. While still a baby, we moved to Dodgeville and had a grocery store and meat market on North Main Street. Eventually there were six of us, me, Butch, Ted, Ione, Hank and Marguerite "Muggs". We had a great childhood growing up in "Dirty Hollow" with all our friends, so it was a busy place. Mom was a great cook and we always had extra people for meals including the salesmen that called at our store. I went through school with a lot of special classmates and graduated as the "Best Class of DHS" in 1941. We remained friends through the years and enjoyed our class reunions and getting together when we could. I went to beauty school in 1942 and worked at the Cardinal Beauty Shop in Madison.
In 1946, I bought a shop in Mineral Point, where I stayed for twenty years. In 1968, I went to work at the School for Girls as a youth counselor for the State of Wisconsin, a job I really enjoyed. Other things I enjoyed doing were giving parties for family and friends, reading, cooking and baking, going to plays and musicals, concerts, music, crosswords and traveling. Ione, Marguerite, Mary and I did make it to New Orleans before "Katrina" struck and destroyed it. On June 21, 1975, Don and I were married and lived in Monroe, where he had his Podiatry office. Don passed away in September of 1989. In August of 2005, I moved back to Dodgeville to be near family and friends. We were always a very close family who enjoyed being together and didn't need an excuse to have fun.
Preceding me in death were mother and dad, grandparents, my brothers, Marvin (in infancy), Butch, Ted and Hank, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Surviving are Ione (Chuck) Williams, Marguerite (Ken) Potts, Dee Ann (Rundle) Van Epps; all my very special nieces and nephews whom I loved very much, Kay Lynn (Jim) Murphy, Mark Van Epps, Tari (Bryan) Marty, Leigh (Terry) Lauffer, Lynne (Steve) Williams-Behr, Brian Williams, Dawn Van Epps, Brad (Judy) Van Epps, Kelly Van Epps, Darcey (Steve) Dougherty, Deb (Calvin) Butteris, Scott Potts, Kris Potts, Rick (Lisa Ann) Potts and her goddaughter, Lisa (Fred) Kerr; many, many great & great-great nieces and nephews, many good friends and special cousins, Les and Phyll Baumer and Mary Ann Wells.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville. Rev. Charlene Bennett will officiate. Inurnment will be held in Highland Cemetery in Monticello at a later date. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Tuesday at the funeral home.
Remember to keep a smile on your face, a song in your heart and enjoy every day until we meet again.
A special thank you to Dr. Grunow, Dr. Grieshaber, Crest Ridge Assisted Living, the entire staff at Bloomfield Manor, Upland Hills Hospice, especially, Stacy & Amber for the their loving care.
It all began on July 20, 1923, when I was born at the Marshfield Hospital to Martha (Waldhart) and Art Van Epps. While still a baby, we moved to Dodgeville and had a grocery store and meat market on North Main Street. Eventually there were six of us, me, Butch, Ted, Ione, Hank and Marguerite "Muggs". We had a great childhood growing up in "Dirty Hollow" with all our friends, so it was a busy place. Mom was a great cook and we always had extra people for meals including the salesmen that called at our store. I went through school with a lot of special classmates and graduated as the "Best Class of DHS" in 1941. We remained friends through the years and enjoyed our class reunions and getting together when we could. I went to beauty school in 1942 and worked at the Cardinal Beauty Shop in Madison.
In 1946, I bought a shop in Mineral Point, where I stayed for twenty years. In 1968, I went to work at the School for Girls as a youth counselor for the State of Wisconsin, a job I really enjoyed. Other things I enjoyed doing were giving parties for family and friends, reading, cooking and baking, going to plays and musicals, concerts, music, crosswords and traveling. Ione, Marguerite, Mary and I did make it to New Orleans before "Katrina" struck and destroyed it. On June 21, 1975, Don and I were married and lived in Monroe, where he had his Podiatry office. Don passed away in September of 1989. In August of 2005, I moved back to Dodgeville to be near family and friends. We were always a very close family who enjoyed being together and didn't need an excuse to have fun.
Preceding me in death were mother and dad, grandparents, my brothers, Marvin (in infancy), Butch, Ted and Hank, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Surviving are Ione (Chuck) Williams, Marguerite (Ken) Potts, Dee Ann (Rundle) Van Epps; all my very special nieces and nephews whom I loved very much, Kay Lynn (Jim) Murphy, Mark Van Epps, Tari (Bryan) Marty, Leigh (Terry) Lauffer, Lynne (Steve) Williams-Behr, Brian Williams, Dawn Van Epps, Brad (Judy) Van Epps, Kelly Van Epps, Darcey (Steve) Dougherty, Deb (Calvin) Butteris, Scott Potts, Kris Potts, Rick (Lisa Ann) Potts and her goddaughter, Lisa (Fred) Kerr; many, many great & great-great nieces and nephews, many good friends and special cousins, Les and Phyll Baumer and Mary Ann Wells.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville. Rev. Charlene Bennett will officiate. Inurnment will be held in Highland Cemetery in Monticello at a later date. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Tuesday at the funeral home.
Remember to keep a smile on your face, a song in your heart and enjoy every day until we meet again.
A special thank you to Dr. Grunow, Dr. Grieshaber, Crest Ridge Assisted Living, the entire staff at Bloomfield Manor, Upland Hills Hospice, especially, Stacy & Amber for the their loving care.