Rhys Williams, 94, passed away peacefully in his home at the Arbors in Gulf Breeze, FL after a full life. Lovingly known as Rhys, Dad, Pop, Boppy, Poppy, Senor, and Sarge. He was a most cherished husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He never met a stranger.

Rhys was born on August 22, 1929, in Elizabeth, NJ. He joined the Air Force in October 1950, and was honorably discharged as rank of Staff Sergeant in 1954, after serving his country in the Korean War. He was a recipient of the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

After his honorable discharge, Rhys' adventurous and curious spirit led him to become a lifelong entrepreneur. He was proud to have taken a sales position with Peter Henderson & Company, and shortly thereafter, he opened the Middletown Garden Center in New Jersey. It was during this time that he met his lifelong partner, Joyce Mary Miller, with whom he started a family. The couple moved to Englewood, FL where he took ownership of a hardware store, he renamed the Williams Hardware House. He took great pleasure in teaching and instilling his love of botany, the great outdoors, and appreciation for Mother Earth in all of his children. He continued his adventurous journey through his life and moved his family to the Ozark Mountains and completely shifted gears by purchasing an outdoor cafe where he honed his culinary skills. On to a new endeavor, he took his entrepreneurial and creative spirit and opened a tannery business and sold leather goods across the country, which then sparked interest in opening retail stores in the tourist town of Eureka Springs, AR. The mountainous artisan community fed his creativity which led him to work with a local artist to master the art of calligraphy, while also subconsciously initiated the memories that would be captured in the many stories that weaved their way into several books written over the next decade. Years later, after his children had grown, he and Joyce ventured back to Florida, where he put his love of people and sales mindset to work and had immediate success as a realtor. During retirement, he followed his father's footsteps and became a gifted painter, which filled his family home galleries with vibrant canvas saturated with his love of lighthouses, boats, and stunning seascapes.

Rhys is preceded in death by his parents, Sidney Fredrick Williams, Jr., and Margaret Jacquillard Clauss.

Rhys was an only child and he is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joyce Mary Williams; children, Lauryn (Mark) Diana Myers of Jasper, GA, Rhys (Anita) Jeffrey Williams of Denver, CO, Abby (Robert) Louise Rinke of Pensacola Beach, FL, Amanda Beatrice Williams of Phoenix, AZ, and Meghan (Kevin) Margaret Bach of Boulder, CO; grandchildren, Jennifer (Steve) Diana Rodriguez, Jason (Jeannie) Allen Myers, Amber Dawn Thomas, John Robert Williams, Vanessa Lea Williams, Tyler Jeffrey Williams, Rhys (Mackenzie) Phillip Rinke, Bailey (David) Carmical Rinke, Eliane Sidney Bach, Aidan Maria Bach, Kaile Simone Militello, and Maika Riley Militello; great-grandchildren, Michael Anthony Rodriguez, Jonathan Mark Rodriguez, Sean Allen Myers, Alexandra Rhys Myers, Cristopher Aiden Myers, Evan John Thomas, Averie Leanne Thomas, Owen Joseph Thomas, Aedan James McClane, KayAnn Lea Caledonia Holt, Wyte Leroy Holt, Emma Rhys Rinke, Ryann Bailey Rinke and Rowan Stone Rinke; as well as several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, Rhys would appreciate any loving support directed to the Salvation Army.

Rhys requested a private family ceremony with his remains returned to the Buffalo River in Arkansas, a place he so loved to float in his Old Towne canoe.

Authored by Jeannie Myers (Jason):

Pop was a good Grape.

The kind the finest wine is made from.

He was the kind of man who loved fiercely, until the end.

The kind of man who knew from the first that a big family would yield a full life.

He knew that home was where you had loved ones together, not a specific location.

He knew that the little things faded, but kisses,

hugs and big laughs would be indelibly seared into our hearts.

He understood that time does not erase all wounds, but it does help heal them.

He understood the power of storytelling, memory building and record keeping.

He allowed those around him to feel welcomed with such ease.

His ear was always ready to listen when even the littlest spoke, and he understood the value of silence.

I am so honored that he raised his kids to follow his lead,

and to have been even a small part of the family he helped build.

I know the deep impact his life's echo will continue to have in my own kids' lives.

His handprint won't fade. That brings so much quiet to my heart.