Jack E. Williams

jack williams

January 1, 1956 ~ October 18, 2010


Resided in: Encinitas, CA

Jack E. Williams, age 54, passed away unexpectedly in Australia on October 18, 2010, while on a business trip. Preceded in death by his mother, Lucille (Seal) Casto Williams. Survived by his wife of 30 years, Cheryl, Encinitas, CA; son, Stephen, Santa Barbara, CA; and daughter, Bethany, Steubenville, OH; the families of his father, George R. & Pattee Williams, Pueblo; brothers, Raymond (Janet) and their children, Justine and Michael Williams, Westminster, CO and George E. (JoAnne) and their daughter, Amy Williams, Pueblo West; aunts, Debbie Casto, Santa Fe, NM and Barbara Booth, Pueblo and their families. Jack was born and raised in Pueblo where he participated in a variety of physical, artistic and music activities. He graduated from Pueblo Centennial in 1974 and CSU-Fort Collins with a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture/floriculture in 1979. While in college he did internships at Sunnyside Nurseries, Gilroy, CA and Irwin Greenhouses, Amarillo, TX. He was involved with kalanchoe production at Irwin Greenhouses from 1979 until 1985 when he became employed at the Paul Ecke Ranch and moved to Encinitas, CA. As a technical specialist for Ecke Ranch and Ecke Europe, Jack visited greenhouse and trial sites throughout Asia, Africa, Australia, India, Europe and all around the America's to evaluate crops, production systems and access the need and market for not only the poinsettias that Ecke Ranch is famous for but all the annual bedding plants, geraniums, kalanchoe and other vegetative annual crops produced and sold by the Ecke companies. In addition to working with product development, production and the sales and marketing groups for new plant introductions, Williams supported these crops through technical support in the form of production documents, magazine articles, crop production books and grower seminars. Williams was a regularly featured author in the consumer press and frequent guest on various radio and television programs targeted to home gardeners and understanding the beauty and care of poinsettias. He was a member of several professional organizations and served on a number of advisory boards. Williams was noted for his involvement and influence in guiding educational programming that was interactive and directly addressed growers needs. Upon learning of Jack's demise his CSU classmate Paul Ecke III stated 'Jack had an amazing passion and creativity for his job and was literally a 'Rock Star' out in the industry.' and 'Everyone knew Jack would be the guy who could help make them successful.' Throughout his life Jack welcomed each day and what it might bring. His quick wit, ready smile, easy laugh, intelligence, loving and caring ways made him a friend of many throughout the world. Many will remember him as a mentor or for his zest for life and how he appreciated and loved the plants and world around him. His immediate and extended family and friends will always remember him for exhibiting and expressing his ever increasing love for them, his honesty, his humbleness and the fact that they and the world have been blessed by his presence which was so suddenly shortened. Celebrations of Jack's life will be held in Encinitas, CA on October 30, 2010, and in Pueblo on November 5, 2010. The Pueblo services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. The George Williams family respectively suggests that persons considering sending food to their home redirect their efforts and acquire a blooming plant for their home or that of a loved or lonely person. The beauty and enjoyment that plant will provide is a great way to remember Jack. Memorials may be made to Jack Williams Memorial Trust, c/o Cheryl Williams, 842 Summersong Ct., Encinitas, CA 92024. Online condolences, MontgomerySteward.com

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  1. Dear Williams Family,
    I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Jack was a wonderful person and left his special mark on everyone who knew him throughout the years. I have so many fun memories of him. God bless and comfort you all.

  2. I am sorry for your loss.
    Jack and I knew each other in high school. We dated briefly. We shared identical initials (J.E.W.). We couldn’t scribe our initials onto anything permanently because of what they spelled….this was our little private secret.
    His brief presence in my life is a fond memory. Even as a teen, he was positive, focused, kind, unselfish and accepting of all people. He was incredibly talented in dance, music and acting. I last saw him about 6 months after our high school graduation. I made lunch for him. It was Campbell’s Tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Pepsi. To this day, I consider those to be comfort foods and I have made the same lunch for my children [but they get milk to drink … (smile)] I have thought of Jack often, and feel blessed to have known him.

  3. Dear Williams Family,
    I’m so terribly sorry for your loss. Jack was a good, funny friend through high school and college, through swim practice and band practice. He will be missed and never forgotten. All my best to your family.

  4. I swam with Jack and his brothers, and their Father has been a great mentor for me. Mary and I are so sorry to hear the news. Jack lived a great life and was such a good man, and a wonderful source of pride for the entire family, and he’ll be greatly missed.

    Much love,
    Mack, Mary, John and Tim Staton

  5. Dear Williams Family,
    Please know how very sorry I was to hear about the loss of this wonderful man. I know his family will find some confort knowing how he touched so many lives in a wonderfully “Jack” way. I have not seen or spoke to Jack since CSU but can still hear he’s invectious laugh, as we shared many times, in Fort Collins and back home working on summer musicals together in Pueblo. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. He is now gone but his spirit will continue on in you.
    With Deepest Sympathy,
    Beverly & Steve Hoffenberg
    Greenwood Village, CO.

  6. Where do I begin?? Jack and I became friends sometime around the 3rd grade at Somerlid Elementary School. It so happened that my family moved to the same neighborhood soon after. Jack and I grew up together and shared much. Jack always had a smile on his face and his happiness was contagious. Perhaps that is why I spent so much time at the Williams Home. I always enjoyed being with Jack and could count on him to lift my spirits. We have spent so many fun times together. I will miss Jack. God Bless Jack Williams.

  7. Jack and I were across the alley friends. He was always there for me. There are so many memories, I’ll keep them close to my heart. My prayers are with Cheryl, Stephen and Beth. My heart is broken knowing we have lost sure a great person.

  8. I met Jack in 7th grade,we became the best of friends. It breaks my heart he had to go so soon. I thank God for allowing me to know Jack, he was a very special person and I will cherish my memories of him for the rest of my life.
    My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
    God Bless You All.

  9. Dear Williams Family,
    I was deeply saddened to see the notice about Jack. I went to school with Ray and remember Jack from school days. My family was good friends with the Atwaters and so the Williams boys were always around and part of good memories for me. My sincere condolences to you all. Colleen Sheard Housman

  10. George,

    We send our most sincere condolences to you and your family for this terrible loss. Although we never knew Jack, we know from reading the obituary that he was a fine man. Please know that many friends are thinking of you.

  11. I have known Jack since he was a baby and we grew up together. There are many good memories of those years. He was a close friend of my sister and spent of a lot of time at our house. I didn’t see much of Jack these last few decades but when I did it was a good time. I will miss him.

  12. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May the memories of Jack comfort you all. I know he is smiling down upon us as he starts a new journey with his mother.

  13. Our deepest condolences to your family and friends. I was a good friend of Jack’s mother and my family and I met Jack in his High Schools years when I was one of the directors of the Centennial H.S. musicals and the City Summer musicals. Jack had the most wonderful positive can do attitude that was truly contagious. I had not talked to Jack for probably thirty years, but just recently reconnected with him through Facebook. I learned all about his lovely family. He will always hold a special spot in our hearts and know that he will be greatly missed by all. I am sure that he is in heaven with his mother. God Bless. Marilynn And Lance Allen


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