Mary Lynn (Norton) Williams, 77, of Medford, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2026, at The Waterford at Colby under the compassionate care of Memories Hospice.

Mary was born on July 8, 1949, in Phillips to Fred Sr. and Marilyn (Boheim) Norton. She graduated from Phillips High School in 1967 and went on to earn an associate degree from Taylor County Teacher’s College. She continued her education at UW-Stevens Point, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1974.

On July 27, 1968, Mary married the love of her life, Allen "Al" Williams. Together, they built a life centered around family, business, education, public service and an unwavering commitment to their community.

Mary began her professional career in education, teaching second grade for 18 years with the Medford Area Public School District. She also taught eighth-grade Junior Achievement for six years, helping young people develop an understanding of business, financial responsibility and the world around them.

Alongside Allen, Mary was a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur. Together, they co-owned and operated five Hardee’s restaurants and a Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor for 40 years. She also served as bookkeeper for Williams Construction and Al Williams Construction. Her dedication to both education and business reflected her strong belief in creating opportunities for others and strengthening the communities in which she lived and worked.

Mary’s commitment to public service was extensive and spanned decades. She served four years on the Taylor County Board of Supervisors, where she and Allen were one of only a couple of husband-and-wife teams to serve together on the board. During her time there, she served as chair of the Health Committee and Taylor County Library Committee and was a member of the Personnel Committee, Agriculture and UW Extension Committee and Land Conservation Committee. She also served as chairperson of the Health and Home Nursing Committee and continued her work with the Taylor County Health Committee and Taylor County Human Service Board.

In 2002, she won her first election to the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing District 87. She was inaugurated in 2003 and held that position until 2015. She was warmly known as “the Sunshine Lady.”   During her legislative career, she served on countless committees and held numerous leadership positions, including Chair of Rural Development; Vice Chair of Rural Affairs and Renewable Energy; Chair of Jobs, Economy and Mining; Chair of Jobs, the Economy and Small Business; and Chair of AB 29 RFIV Sale of Consumer Goods. She was especially proud of serving as State Assembly Majority Caucus Secretary for three years and Minority Caucus Secretary for one year.

Her public service also extended beyond the State Assembly. She was appointed by Governor Scott Walker to the Wisconsin State Technical College System Board. She served with the Wisconsin Association of County Extension Committees and was involved with numerous local, regional and statewide organizations dedicated to agriculture, conservation, education, economic development, tourism, public health, youth and community improvement.

Mary served as president of Restorative Justice of Taylor County, president of Pri-Ru-Ta, president of the Wisconsin Association of Resource Conservation and Development, and second vice president of North Central Resource Conservation and Development, which represented seven states. She was president of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board and served as president and secretary of the Medford Public Library Board of Directors. She was secretary of the Taylor County Tourism Council, secretary of the Price Waterways Association and treasurer of the Taylor County Fair Board and served on the Juvenile Justice Committee.

Her community involvement was extensive and included the Taylor County Health Committee, Safe and Stable Families Committee, Solberg Lake Association, Price County Farm Bureau, Republican Party organizations in four counties, Chambers of Commerce in five cities, Dairy Breakfast Committee, ITBEC Full Board and Executive Committee, Assets Committee for the Medford Area School District, Friends of the Library, Taylor County Historical Society, Taylor County Town and Country Breakfast Committee, Taylor County Land Conservation Committee Member, Taylor County Health Planning Committee, Family Preservation and Support Steering Committee, City of Medford Election Board, Vacant Stores Committee, We Whittlesey Whizzers Snowmobile Club, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Taylor County Dairy Promotion Committee, Medford Band Parents Association, Safe-T-Town Committee, Medford Youth Hockey Association, Education for Employment Council, Steering Committee for the Department of Public Instruction, Extension Education Committee, North Central Technical College Representative, Northwest Land Conservation Association, National Rifle Association, Taylor County Tavern League, Chequamegon Sportsmen’s Club, Farm Bureau, Knox Creek Heritage Association, Local Emergency Planning Committee, National Federation of Independent Business, Taylor County Cooperative Youth Fair, WEAC and NEA, Tobacco Coalition, Assets Vision Committee with the Medford Area School District, Animal Waste Advisory Committee and AMVETS of Price County.

Mary was also an integral part of starting the figure skating program at the Simek Recreation Center, providing another opportunity for area youth to learn, participate and grow.

Throughout her lifetime of service, Mary received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions. Among them were the State Bar of Wisconsin Scales of Justice Award for 2011-2012, the Wisconsin Forestry Council Distinguished Service Award in 2008, the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Hero Award, Wisconsin Builders Association Friend of Housing Award, Friend of Wisconsin Dairy Industry Award, WCCO Legislator of the Year 2003 and 2004, and the National MS Society Outstanding Volunteer Advocate Award in 2003. She was named the 1992 Woman of the Year by the Medford Business and Professional Women’s Organization, the first and only award of its kind ever presented by the organization. She was also named Dairy Promoter of the Year for Taylor County in 1993 and was awarded Franchisee of the Year honors by both Hardee’s and Happy Joe’s.

While Mary accomplished much throughout her professional and public life, her greatest pride and joy was her family. She and Allen raised three children: Michelle (Gerald) Wiskerchen of Wausau, Kimberly (John) Fechhelm of Medford, and Kris (Rebecca) Williams of Park City, Utah. She was a proud grandmother to Dakota (Morgan Piller) Wiskerchen, Marrol (Anthony Bonney) Wiskerchen, Evan and Brody Fechhelm, and a loving great-grandmother to Zayne, Asher, Savannah and Cooper.

She is also survived by her sister, Marjorie Salsbury of Minnesota, as well as many nieces and nephews, including Lisa Lowder, Chad Williams, Jessica Williams, Carole O’Brien, Gary Muelling, Tim Koslowski, Luke Norton, David Helander and Michael Helander.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Sr. and Marilyn Norton; her parents-in-law, Richard and Bernadine Williams; her husband Al on July 12, 2026; her siblings Judith Muelling, Fred Norton Jr. and Patrice Norton; brothers-in-law Ronald Williams, Ronald Muelling and Louis “Bud” Salsbury; sister-in-law Charlotte Norton; nephews Scott R. Williams and Sam Norton; and nieces Patrice Kearns and Shey Zimmerman.

Her legacy will live on through her children and grandchildren, the many organizations and communities she served, the students whose lives she touched, the businesses she helped build, and the countless people who benefited from her dedication and friendship.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, October 9, 2026 at Hemer-Pickerign Funeral Home in Medford with Mary’s nephew, Tim Koslowski officiating.  She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Evergreen Cemetery II, Medford.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 2 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.

Following the services, please join the family for a celebration of Mary’s life from 3:30–7 p.m. at the Medford VFW.

The family requests that guests wear bright, colorful attire to all events in honor of Mary’s vibrant personality!  She especially loved red!

In lieu of flowers, memorials may go to Moments Hospice of Stevens Point, 1209 Church St, Stevens Point, WI 54481, or to the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure, visit https://alzfdn.org/donate