Dexter man dies unexpectedly on cruise ship

Daily Statesman

A father and son’s vacation ended tragically this week for a well-known Dexter family. The family of 39-year old Richard Williams learned early Tuesday he died while aboard a cruise ship Monday. Williams had taken his kindergarten-age son, Tayton, on a Disney cruise to the Cayman Islands. Williams began to feel ill on the boat and asked the ship’s day-care center to take care of his son while he went to his cabin to rest. When Williams did not return to pick up the child, ship officials went to his cabin and found him dead. The cause of death has not been determined, but Williams was known to have health problems, including asthma. He lived in Dexter and was self-employed. According to family members, crew members on the ship took charge of Williams’ son, and he will be flown back to St. Louis where he will be reunited with family members. The only sibling of Richard Williams is his brother, Roy Williams, who owns and operates Fiddler’s Restaurant in Dexter. The restaurant was closed Tuesday.