Jerry Michael McWILLIAMS

Mike was truly a renaissance man. While he was a beloved husband, son, brother, uncle and friend to many, he was also a brilliant educator, scholar, mentor, poet and artist. Mike was born on December 26, 1942 in Kansas City, KS to Florence (Murray) McWilliams and Edwin (Jeff) McWilliams. The family moved to Lawrence in his early teens and he attended and graduated from Lawrence High School. Then, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education cum laude from the University of Kansas. While at KU, he was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. Later, he earned his Master’s degree from the University of Arizona.

Mike began his career teaching biology at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, KS. During his tenure at Ward, he became head of the science/biology department. He later became Assistant Principal and was ultimately promoted to Principal, the first lay, non-Jesuit Principal of the school. In the early 80s, he joined the Kansas City, MO school district, revamping and managing the science/biology curriculum across high schools in the district. He also continued to teach and serve in various administrative roles for the district.

Upon his marriage on June 20, 2006 to Patricia McCarthy, math teacher at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, Mike retired from teaching and concentrated on his art and poetry, raising his beloved Pomeranians, Bear and Crème Puff, and, because of his continued love of education, he occasionally served as a substitute teacher.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia McCarthy, of Indianapolis; his sister, Joan (McWilliams) Johnson of Leawood, KS; sister-in-law Deanna McWilliams of Lawrence, KS: brother Larry McWilliams and his wife Joyce of Shawnee, KS; and sister Mary Ann (McWilliams) Suppes and her husband Larry of Shawnee, KS. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Sister Marie McCarthy of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN. He was preceded in death by his father Edwin (Jeff) McWilliams, his mother Florence McWilliams and older brother Terry McWilliams.

While Mike had no children, he loved his nieces and nephews immensely and often treated them as his own. He was especially proud of and close to Debbie, Sheree, Jeff and Tim Johnson, whom he lived with and helped his sister Joan raise from the mid-60s to the late 70s. Mike was an important person in their lives and was so much more than an uncle to the four of them.

He also adored and loved his other nieces and nephews: Troy, Teri, Shannon and Matt McWilliams; Darren and Shaun McWilliams; and Colleen Scherer and Maureen (Scherer) Hayes. In addition, Mike loved his niece and nephew in-laws and all of his great nieces and nephews, who brought him special joy and happiness.

Services will be held at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, 2801 West 86th St., Indianapolis, on Saturday August 11, 2012. Calling will begin at 10:00 am with a Mass at 11:30. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Brebeuf Jesuit Angel Fund or to the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN or to St. Vincent Hospice, Indianapolis. Condolences may be offered at www.feeneyhornakkeystone.com