Paul Williams, M.D.

Paul A. Williams, MD
Dr. Paul Allan Williams, 88, of Lees Summit, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, surrounded by family and friends. He is remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, as well as an outstanding physician, educator and administrator.
A native of Rensselaer, Indiana, Paul was born August 19, 1933, the son of Roy David Williams and Mary Ellen (Fitzgerald) Williams Beaver. Growing up in Indiana, Paul developed a deep love for Indiana farmland. He cherished time spent on his farms and surveying the crops grown in the rich Indiana soil.
A portion of Pauls childhood was spent on the West Indies island of St. Lucia where his father worked. This instilled in him a love of nature and travel. He often returned to the Caribbean and enjoyed hiking and being outdoors. Other favorite travels included skiing in Colorado, biking in the United States and Ireland, and hiking at Dogwood Canyon and Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri.
Paul was known for his love of animals. He was an accomplished equestrian and skilled in fox hunting. He trained his beloved Dobermans to be gentle and they brought him great joy.
Paul attended Tulane University Medical School where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He was a diplomate of the American College of Family Practice. Following graduation, Dr. Williams served Rensselaer by providing quality healthcare to families in the community for more than 24 years. He was especially proud of providing prenatal care and delivering thousands of babies, including quadruplets. He provided care for students and athletes at St. Joseph College, members of the Chicago Bears NFL team and he served on the medical team for the Indianapolis 500.
Following his private family medicine career, Dr. Williams entered academic medicine at Indiana University and University of Missouri - Kansas City medical schools. At Indiana University he introduced new procedural skills to train family medicine residents. As the American Academy of Family Physicians representative to the American Cancer Society, he introduced protocols that made significant improvements in national healthcare. As a UMKC faculty member, he served as Director of the Family Medicine Residency and was a lecturer and director for the student preceptor program. He began his tenure as Chair of the Department of Community and Family Medicine in 1989 and expanded the program to become the largest family medicine residency training program in the state of Missouri. He also served as Medical Director of Truman Medical Center Lakewood for more than 10 years. Dr. Williams was honored by the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians for outstanding service and UMKC School of Medicine awarded him the status of Professor Emeritus.
Dr. Williams leaves behind his cherished family who he was so proud of.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Marilee Messersmith Williams; sons, Paul (Maxine) Williams, Jr., Indianapolis, IN; Thane Williams, Ocean Spring, MS; Troy (Deborah) Williams, Jemez Springs, NM; Avery (Racquel) Williams, Moss Bluff, LA; Joel Haskell of Rensselaer, IN; daughters, Deni Helms, Ocean Springs, MS; Gabrielle (Jody) Treadwell, Jacksonville, FL; eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Paul was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Ernest J. Helms, Jr.
Dr. Williams had a deep faith, was humble and compassionate, and touched the lives of countless individuals. Whether as a young, hard-working rural clinician, a superb medical educator or an outstanding administrator he always made a difference for which we are eternally grateful.
A visitation will be held at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 130 NW Murray Road, Lees Summit, Missouri 64081, on Friday, May 20, 2022, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. followed by a Catholic Mass. Cremains to be interred at Weston Cemetery, Rensselaer, Indiana at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School. Please mail to: Dr. Paul A. Williams Memorial Scholarship, c/o St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School, 2901 NW Lees Summit Road, Lees Summit, Missouri 64064, Memo: In memory of Paul A. Williams, MD.

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