Marquis Kenneth Williams, age 71

      Marquis Kenneth Williams of Surprise, Ariz. died June 4 from complications of Alzheimer’s.

      He was born October 9, 1941 in Kolkata (Calcutta) India to Beatrice Beckwith and John Davis Williams. The family returned to Medfield, MA after WWII. Marq graduated from Roxbury Latin School (‘59), and Amherst College (‘70); he spent six years in the Navy in the Nuclear Submarine Program and taught in the Bellevue Public Schools. Married former wife Julie Doland (’68), Bronwen and Josh were born and they moved to Bainbridge Island in 1975. Marq worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

      Marq married Marilee Fitch in 1979 and with her boys created a combined family of six. They lived on Bainbridge Island until moving to Blacksburg, VA where Marq earned a Masters in Architecture from Virginia Tech (’93). He and Marilee traveled extensively, living in Oakland, Delaware, Jersey City, Phoenix, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and finally Surprise.

      Marq was extremely active and creative. He enjoyed sailing, soccer, skiing (water and snow), building, painting, drawing and eating – especially ice cream.

      He is survived by his wife Marilee; daughter Bronwen Sainsbury (John) of Seattle; sons Josh Williams (Lakshmi Muirhead) of Seattle, Mathew Fitch (Robin) of Fayetteville, NC and Jason Fitch (Mary Jane) of Swampscott, MA; brother Wade Williams (Penny Schindler) of Concord, MA; sisters Nancy Williams of Chelmsford, MA and Wendy Eklund (Ken) of Olympia, WA; and nine grandchildren.

      Services will be held July 9th 2 p.m. at the Mt. Baker Rowing & Sailing Center, 3800 Lake Washington Blvd S. Seattle, WA 98118. Reception immediately following. Remembrances can be made to: Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp or Hospice of the Valley www.hov.org/donate.