Longtime Juneau resident Donald Richard Williams Sr., Tlingit name Thla-usk, from the Raven Dog Salmon clan, died Nov. 19, 2009, after a short battle with cancer. He was 70.

Born March 12, 1939, in Petersburg, to Margaret Williams, of Kake, and Ole Vike, of Norway, he grew up in Petersburg with his older brother. At the age of 18, he graduated from Petersburg High School and later joined the U.S. Army, where he was able to travel across seas to Europe and the Lower 48.

After serving in the Army for two years, he moved back to Petersburg, where he soon met the love of his life, Emma Jean "Amy" Williams, daughter of Lena and James Demmert. In 1965, they were married and had five children: Lavina Davis, Lena Jimenez, Frances Oyloe, Letha Ceasar and Wayne Armour. In 1966, his first son, Donald Williams Jr., was born.

In his early 30s, he moved his children to Portland, Ore., so he could attend a business college. After graduating in 1972, he moved to Juneau with his family and began working as an accountant for Tlingit and Haida Central Council.

In 1973, his youngest son, Ole Williams, was born, and in 1975, his youngest daughter, Dixie Williams, was born.

He worked for Tlingit and Haida Central Council for 14 years, eventually becoming director of the Division of Administrative Services and retiring in 1986.

In 1989, his love for accounting brought him and his family to Sitka to work for as the finance director for Sitka Tribe of Alaska for 11 years. His second retirement was in the year 200, when he moved back home to Juneau and where his family remained.

He took great pride in his family, providing for more than just his own, encouraging the younger generation to go to college and always trying to instill the best of values, his family said.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed cooking, fishing, boating, carpentry, working, camping, reading and most recently, spending time with his grandchildren, family and friends. He had a special presence about him that everyone respected, his family said. He was a kind but quiet man, but when he spoke, he had meaning to everything. His wit, suprising at times, brought laughter and cheers, they said.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Ole Williams; and grandson, Stevie, Oyloe.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Emma "Amy" Williams; children, Dixie Williams and partner, Ace McNaughton, Donald Williams Jr., Wayne Armour, Letha Ceasar and partner Bob Kinville, Frances Oyloe and husband, Steve, Lena Jiminez and Lavina Davis and husband, Alan, all of Juneau; grandchildren, Ted Lauth, Brian Lauth, James Fink, Daniel Fink and wife, Yvonne, Jeremy Fink and wife, Lucy, Bruce Lee Williams, Richard Oyloe, Amy Oyloe and partner, Matt Romme, Antoinette Koenig, Kyle Kinville, and Hannah McNaughton, all of Juneau, Jacob Zinn, of Anchorage, Jessica Hood and husband, Jay, of Durango, Colo., Corrina Koenig, of Wisconsin, and Mikey Wood, of Yakutat; great-grandchildren, Ashton Oyloe, Kyler Romme and Cherish Fink, all of Juneau, and Mia Hood, of Durango; brother, Alan Williams, of Anchorage; niece, Dawn Wellington and husband, Doug; and three great-nieces of Washington.

His services were held Nov. 23 at Glacier Valley Church of God. Pallbearers were Patrick Lotte, Ted Weiting, Bruce Williams, John Hammock, Roger Ness and Lionel Carrol. Honorary pallbearers were Mike Everson, Joe Tagaban, Jim Hanson and Clarence Jackson.