Survivors include her siblings, Michael (Mike) Williams and wife, Leslie, of Jefferson City, MO; Shelley McCormick and husband, Mike, of Independence, MO; and Denise Richards and husband, Kip, of Overland Park, KS; seven nephews and nieces and a great-niece; multiple cousins; and last but certainly not the least, Julian (a/k/a Juju), Elizabeth’s ever-devoted black lab mix.
Elizabeth was born on November 14, 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri, the third daughter and youngest child of Emmett and Jean (Britt) Williams.
Elizabeth graduated from Hickman Mills High School, Class of 1991, and went on to pursue careers in modeling and sales in Kansas City and San Diego, CA, where she lived for eight years working as an account executive in the legal industry and fell in love with the ocean. Elizabeth earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1995 and an M.B.A. from Rockhurst University in 2003.
Elizabeth was an avid animal lover and had several canine companions during her adult life, all lovingly cared for and adopted from Wayside Waifs in Kansas City. Julian was especially dear to Elizabeth, and he remained by her side to the end.
Throughout her life, Elizabeth loved spending time with family and friends at her family’s lake house at Lake of the Ozarks. When in Kansas City, Elizabeth would try to head down to the lake any available weekend.
Staying active, healthy eating and spiritual connection were important parts of how Elizabeth lived her life. Elizabeth enjoyed and was often busy with any number of DIY home improvement or landscaping projects. Accompanying her dad to the annual Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade and local Hibernian events were the highlights of any year spent in Kansas City.
The comprehensive assistance and loving care Elizabeth received from Kristy, Anna and the other nurses and staff at St. Luke’s Home Care & Hospice were exceptional and helped ease Elizabeth from the bonds of this world. Also treasured were the many visits, homemade cookies, homecooked meals and multiple other acts of kindness shown by Elizabeth’s friends and loved ones during her final bout with this disease. The conversations and shared laughter lifted Elizabeth’s spirit each time.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Emmett Eugene Williams and Jean Ann (Britt) Williams, niece Stephanie McCormick, and nephews Chad and Sean McCormick.
A private graveside service will be held at Mount Moriah Cemetery South, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO, where Elizabeth will be interred near her parents’ place of rest.
The family suggests a memorial donation to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64137, in lieu of flowers. Wayside Waifs is a private, non-profit humane society and animal shelter. waysidewaifs.org