Obituary of Maxine Ella Williams

Maxine (Mickey) B Williams (98), of Howe Blvd., Canton, retired editor‑journalist, died December 24, 2017, with family by her side.

Mickey was born Maxine Ella Bradt on August 25, 1919 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Harry Peter and Jewel Wolfgang Bradt.   In 1921 the family moved to Sherburn, Minnesota, where she grew up and attended school.  She graduated from Sherburn High School in 1936 and then moved to New York City where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Barnard College in 1940.

Following college she had a brief singing career with a women's trio, The Symphonettes, and with the Lyn Murray Chorus on CBS Radio in New York City.  At the time of her marriage she was employed in the trust accounting department of Central Hanover Bank and Trust Co. on Wall Street, New York City.

Mickey married J. Robert Williams (Bob), of Prospect, NY,  on Sept. 13, 1942 at the Church of the Ascension, Fifth Ave., New York City.  Mr. Williams died in 2001. Her husband, a second lieutenant with the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II, moved to several assignments.  The couple lived for short periods in Columbia, SC; Carthage, MO; Green Cove Springs, FL; and Nashville. TN.

Upon his discharge from the service, her husband was employed as a reporter for the Watertown Daily Times (NY), during which time the family lived in Canton, NY, and in Sacketts Harbor, NY.  Mr. Williams then worked in Public Relations at St. Lawrence University.  In 1956 the family to moved to Trumansburg, NY, where he was employed at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.  In 1958 they moved to Oberlin, Ohio, where he was Executive Secretary at Oberlin College.  In 1968 they moved back to Canton, NY. where he took the job of Registrar at St. Lawrence University until his retirement.

In Oberlin Mickey Williams was a reporter for the Oberlin News‑Tribune and was later appointed as assistant editor of the Oberlin College Alumni Magazine.  When she and her husband moved back to Canton in 1968, she was appointed assistant in the Public Relations office at St. Lawrence University where she was well known for the AGreen Sheet.@   She retired from that position in 1984.

Always active in the musical world, Mickey sang with many choral organizations including the Barnard College Glee Club and the chapel choir at Columbia University.   She was for many years a member of the choir at the Canton First Presbyterian Church, sang in the choir of First Church in Oberlin, and sang with the Presbyterian Church choir in Trumansburg.  In addition she was a member of the Cornell University Community Chorus, the Musical Union at Oberlin College, and the St. Lawrence University community chorus.

Mickey and her husband liked to travel and made numerous journeys around the United States and Canada; several tours in Europe; and to China, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, and Venezuela.  They spent many summers camping in the Adirondacks with their children and continued to enjoy camping and canoeing together in the Adirondacks upon their return to the North Country.  Bob and Mickey spent many hours gardening during their working and retirement years.

Mickey was active in volunteer work wherever she lived.  In Canton she was a long‑time helper at the Church and Community Program thrift shop, a Literacy Program volunteer, a member of the Friends of Canton Free Library board for over 20 years, chairman of the SLU Laurentian Women's Association Lunch Bunch, was on the committee for the SLU faculty/staff retirees organization, and volunteered at North Country Public Radio.  In Oberlin she served as an officer of the college faculty wives= organization and was active in school organizations when their children were young.  She was honored for her work as a volunteer with the St. Lawrence County Historical Association, with the Canton Free Library (especially the book sale), and in 2008 received an award from the Zonta Club for her community service. She was an avid reader, a bridge player, and regularly did crossword puzzles.

Mrs. Williams is survived by two daughters and sons‑in‑law, Cynthia Williams and William Brower, of Asheville, NC, and Elizabeth Williams and Michael French, of Nelson, NH; and by two sons and daughters‑in‑law, LtCol David, USAF (Ret) and Kathleen Williams, of Great Falls, MT; and Robert and Monica Williams, of Bloomington, MN; four grandsons, David B. Williams (Jessie), SMSgt. Eric Williams (MSgt. Cathy) USAF, Geoffrey Williams, and Peter French (Francine); three step-granddaughters, Holly Fiss (Joe) and Michelle French; and Jason Hoover (Jennifer) ; and ten great grandchildren.   Two sisters, Dorothea Johnson and Grayce Murabito, died earlier.                                                      

The Family welcomes you to a Celebration of Life, Saturday, April 21, 2018, at 11:00 AM, at the First Presbyterian Church, Canton, NY. 

Contributions in memory of Mickey may be made to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley West, Canton Free Library, Canton First Presbyterian Church, or North Country Public Radio.