Nicholas Paul Williams

Nicholas Paul Williams was born in Bend, Oregon on August 6,1968 at St. Charles Hospital in Bend. He passed, in the company of loved ones, on March 23, 2026, at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend from pneumonia and other complications. Nick was the youngest of three boys born to Dr. John D. “Jack” Williams and Martha “Marty” Ann Gross (Williams). He spent the early years of his life with his family in the house his parents built on the rim of the Deschutes River north of Bend, where the Riley Ranch Reserve is now located. It was an idyllic rural setting where he could, with his brothers and friends, roam the river canyon, play on the treehouse or tire swing, take swims in the river and pond, ride his BMX bike, and help with family chores like irrigation and caring for a flock of sheep. Later he moved with his mother to live on Drake Road in Bend. He attended Kenwood elementary school, Cascade Junior High, and Mountain View High School in Bend, graduating in the Class of 1987. He received a Scholastic Achievement award for math and played saxophone in the school band. Over the course of his life, Nick worked on contract forestry crews, as a scuba diving instructor, a housepainter, with concrete and rock, and as a self-employed construction contractor. However, he most liked doing finish carpentry. He was skilled at woodworking and enjoyed making furniture and other wood objects using traditional joinery methods such as dovetail and box joints and teaching those skills to others. Nick liked being outdoors, particularly in the Oregon high desert, often taking day trips and also extended camping trips. He cherished his Great Dane dogs. He was an avid scuba diver and enjoyed being on the water. He traveled to several countries, including Australia, parts of Europe and Central America. Nick loved America and Bend, and he also loved practical jokes. Friends and family knew that one of his favorite days of the year was April Fool’s Day, and that they were not safe from well thought out pranks until the day was over. Like his father Jack, he was fond of shooting, fishing, and fireworks. His mother Marty taught him to be an excellent cook and gardener, and his stepfather Phil taught him woodworking and music. Nick is survived by his mother, Marty Williams Buck; wife, Wendy Larson Williams; brother, John Williams and sister-in-law, Sandy Williams; step-siblings, Phil Buck Jr. and Denise Parsons; cousins, Heather Ridgway, Holly Uchida, Erla Click, and Samantha Shepard; nieces, Jesse Stillman, Katy Steinbrecher, Kendra Moulton, and Joelle George; nephew, Zachary Williams; close friend, Patti Walters, and many others. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. John D. “Jack” Williams; older brother, Kevin Williams; and stepfather, Phil Buck Sr. All friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life to be held on Saturday June 6th, 2026, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the Deschutes Brewery Mountain Room at: 901 SW Simpson Ave, Bend. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NEAR THE OLD MILL, NOT THE BOND STREET RESTAURANT LOCATION. Parking onsite or across Colorado Ave or Simpson Ave in Pavilion or other parking lot. To RSVP or for more information call, email, or text: John Williams at (541) 419-9446; jw@bendbroadband.com or Katy Steinbrecher at (541) 706-1403

Tributes

Nicholas Paul Williams

August 6, 1968 - March 23, 2026