AMERICAN FORK, Nov. 29, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — An American Fork woman who was shot to death at her boyfriend’s Midvale residence is being remembered by her many friends and family members for the quality of the life she lived.
Lisa Vilate Williams, 26, of American Fork, died Sunday while playing with her boyfriend’s twins, according to her obituary. Police have charged the boyfriend’s ex-wife, a teacher at Skyridge High School in Lehi, with aggravated homicide.
Williams was born in Hildale, Utah, and raised in Colorado City, Arizona, her obituary says:
“Lisa grew up with a large family that loved her dearly. It was love at first sight when she was born. Always gracious and kind, Lisa found many ways in her youth and throughout her life to express her truly generous and thoughtful nature. She loved kids, especially her nieces and nephews, and had a constant commitment to seek self-improvement and personal growth. Lisa epitomized elegance, both in her demeanor and her character.”
Williams graduated from Centennial Park Academy in 2011, then went to work at a local mortgage company.
“There she met life-long friends, whom she referred to as her “office family.” Paul and Lisa Knudson held a special place in her heart,” the obituary says.
In 2015, Williams moved to Salt Lake City to care for her sister.
“She began working as a bank teller which challenged her shy and quiet nature. She found pride in her newfound ability to engage in ‘small talk.’
“Lisa was joyful and delighted in the little things…. To those who knew her well, she was funny, thoughtful, philosophical, and loved to engage in meaningful conversation. Taken too soon, our beautiful daughter, sister, aunt, and friend will be missed immensely.”
“Lisa, is preceded in death by her brother Curtis John Williams and is survived by her parents, Tawny, Charles, LuAnn, and Lillian; her grandmother Ina Palmer; her siblings, Carmen Zitting, Charlie, Hyrum, Benjamin, Meagen Zitting, Melissa, Mary Naylor, Joshua, Rebekah, Jonathan, Laura, Cyndi, Abigail, Maureen, Zachary, Caleb, Katelyn, Jordan, Samuel, Kimberly, Allison, Whitney, Madyson, and Olivia Williams.
To read the full obituary, click here.
A GoFundMe page revealed more memories:
“Lisa was the most amazing and sincere individual. Everywhere Lisa went, she spread beauty and happiness. She loved all of the small things and was enamored with making every little thing special and beautiful. From our Parisian themed dates to finding the saddest plant in the store as a project to bring back to life she made everything better, she sought out life.
“We all miss her so much; her spirit was magic and we can only hope to feel it again. She was ripped from our lives so suddenly and senselessly when she was murdered by her boyfriend’s jealous ex wife. She was spending the evening with her boyfriend’s adoring twins, and making homemade ornaments for the holiday season when she was taken from us. She loved bigger than anyone I know. Our beautiful little sister, daughter, and friend, you are so very loved and missed immensely.”
A public viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Centennial Park Chapel in Centennial Park, Arizona. Another viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, prior to the 1 p.m. funeral service.
According to Tawny Williams, listed as one of the victim’s mothers, Lisa was making Christmas ornaments with her boyfriends twins, age 3, when she was fatally shot.
“She was so kind, sweet, generous, loving, and brought joy and excitement to every aspect of life,” Tawny Williams said in a Facebook post.
“… She was magic, and I want her remembered for how she lived and not for how she was killed.”
We dont know the entire story. What made the exwife snap? I read she had been arrested before for domestic violence, but things arent always what they seem.. Maybe she was a victim too. People need to look at the entire picture. She was a beautiful woman, she had a career as a teacher… She obviously was not some lost soul. I think there is more to the story then just some jelous ex wife.
I’m sorry for your loss. Rest assured that Lisa is resting in Jesus arms now.
There has to be more about this story that we do not know. So this guy had just finalized his divorce. That means the new girlfriend had been dating him before his divorce. Therefore the girlfriend should have never been dating a merry guy with children. There are plenty of single guys out there why dating a merry men with children? She put herself in to that situation.