Howard Wayne Williams

Howard Wayne "Howie" Williams was freed from his pain on May 2, 2018.  Howie was born on November 22, 1954 to Howard Frankie & Patricia Louise (Hayes) Williams in McNary, Arizona.  He grew up in the larger white house on the corner of Woodland and the highways.  He started hanging out at his father's Richfield at 3 years old and began working there at age 12.  Howie attended Blue Ridge High School, Mesa Community College and Arizona State University graduating with a bachelor's in education (industrial arts).  He did his student teaching with his friend and mentor Kenny McClaran and then took his place at Snowflake High School.  While Howie was in college, he married and had a son Jason in 1979.  That marriage later dissolved.  He began teaching at Blue Ridge High School in 1984 and remained there until his retirement in 2013.  During this time, he met and married Mary Anne Zimmerman.  His biggest sources of pride and accomplishments, were his son and grandsons, his many students who are in the automotive industry, the Pit Crew Challenge teams, and his time inspecting for the National Street Rod Associations.

Howie is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Williams; son, Jason Williams, brother, Gary (Diane) Williams; sisters, Sandi (Merv) Baker, Frankie (Jim) Allison, Barbara (Mike) Schield; grandsons, Mason and Cooper as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A private service will be held by the family.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 5:00-8:00 P.M. Saturday, June 2, 2018 at El Rancho in Pinetop.  All friends, family and former students are invited.  Please wear car shirts and drive classic cars if you have them.  For former students the price of admission is an Auto Shop story to share.

If anyone would like to make donations, please make them to the Howard Williams Scholarship fund through the Run to the Pines committee or the Editha House for cancer patients edithahouse.org