Aug. 21, 1951 ~ Nov. 8, 2023
Racquel Robison Williams, 72, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 in Orem, Utah after an eight-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
A funeral will be held at the Orem 3rd Ward Chapel, 50 S. 800 E., Orem, Utah on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 11 a.m. Prior to the funeral services, a viewing will be held at the chapel from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in Fillmore, Utah in the Fillmore City Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 20. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the American Cancer Society or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund.
Racquel was born on August 21, 1951 in Fillmore, Utah to Wayne Ashby Robison and Marjorie Brunson Robison. Racquel was the first surviving child and only daughter born to Ashby and Marjorie. She and Ren, her younger brother, grew up surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Fillmore. She graduated from Millard High School in 1969. Between additional schooling at Snow College in Ephraim and Utah Tech in Provo, Racquel served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in and around Oakland, California. Near the end of her service, Racquel was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at the Stanford Medical Center. She quickly returned home and successfully completed radiation treatments at the University of Utah.
Racquel married Alan Mern Williams on October 16, 1980 in the Provo Utah Temple and began a long and happy marriage. They had two children, Shandra Williams and Braden Mern Williams. Over the years, they created homes in Salt Lake City, Utah; Tacoma, Washington; West Jordan, Utah; Vernal, Utah; Lincoln, Nebraska, and Sandy, Utah. Racquel and Alan were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many positions in the church, including ward and stake Relief Society president, Young Women's leader, pianist, and organist. In their later years, Racquel and Alan particularly enjoyed working together in the Winter Quarters Temple and serving in the small branches of the Lincoln, Nebraska Stake.
Racquel cultivated a keen spirit of optimism in her life and willingly shared her signature sparkle with all those she encountered. Her passions in life were music, family, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. She learned to play the piano at a young age and grew up in a home full of music. When the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced construction of a temple in Vernal, she took lessons to learn how to play the organ and enjoyed playing in the temple chapel regularly. Racquel made it a point to be at the "crossroads" of her children's days and lives. When her kids were young, she always had a listening ear and a snack after school. Even in her later years while undergoing regular chemotherapy, she was still available for phone calls to chat during her kids' commutes. She accompanied Alan on many road trips and adventures, and they frequently made it a point to stop and visit family en route to their various destinations. When they lived in Lincoln, Racquel and Alan also loved hosting family and friends who were traveling across the Midwest on I-80. Racquel's faith in Jesus Christ was most evident in the way she loved and treated others.
Racquel is survived by her brother Lorenzo Robison (Kelly Frampton), her daughter Shandra Williams Hall (Lawrence Hall), and her son Braden Williams (Rebecca Gustafson). She is also survived by six grandchildren—Caleb, Isaac, Anneliese, Ian, Hugh, and Ellery Williams. Racquel is preceded in death by her husband, Alan, her parents, Ashby and Marjorie, and brother, David.
The Williams Family would like to thank Kathy, Sarah, and the other staff from Quality Hospice, as well as the staff at Cedarwood at Sandy, and the doctors and staff at both Nebraska Hematology Oncology and Utah Cancer Specialists.
Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com
