Ave Williams

Ave A. Williams, 79, died Monday, August 17, 2026, at the Lutheran Living in Muscatine, Iowa. She was born on May 29, 1947, in Joplin, Missouri, the daughter of David and Ruth (Storey) Phillips. Ave's parents passed away when she was young (12 or 13), she and her brothers moved in with her Aunt Marie, Uncle Chuck Storey, and her many cousins in Waterloo, Iowa. In her younger years, she volunteered at Sunday school before meeting the love of her life, Donald Williams Jr. After getting married at the Salvation Army June 15, 1977. They moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and had two daughters, Kayla and Dawn. Church with the Salvation Army was a big part of her life after marrying Donald. She would go weekly with her whole family. She also worked as a teacher's aide for over 30 years at River Hills School in Waterloo. Working with handicapped / mentally challenged younger children was her true passion. After work, she kept busy taking care of her children and running her household. Her house was the hangout spot for all the neighborhood kids, and her daughters' friends often called her "Mom." She was loved by everyone who met her and would host a family and friend reunion in her backyard every year. Following the passing of her husband in November 2016, she moved closer to her daughter in Muscatine, living at the Lutheran Living Senior Campus. She spent her last 9 years there, making friends, participating in various activities, and enjoying being close to her grandchildren, Alyssa, Evelyn, and Myra, whom she loved with all her heart. She became a social butterfly and was very active. Some of her favorite activities included Bingo, crafts, baking, nail day, and listening to music, especially Elvis. She would often say goodbye early to family just to catch a good Bingo game. Due to her word search addiction, her family never needed to buy her pens, as the nursing staff would often find them missing from their med carts. She was also known for conning the nursing staff—or anyone she just met—into getting her an extra can of pop. She traveled multiple times a year with her daughters, Kayla and Dawn, and her grandchildren to visit her hometown of Cedar Falls. There, they would visit her sister-in-law, Midge, take a tour of the town, and drive by the old house she shared with her late husband and where they raised there children. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 31, 2026, at Richardson Funeral Service in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. Sunday, August 30th at the funeral home. Burial at Hillside Cemetery in Cedar Falls.

Ave Williams

May 29, 1947 - August 17, 2026