From News Tribune staff writer Steve Maynard:

A Fort Lewis soldier and Federal Way native who was killed in Afghanistan was remembered Friday as a “sweet young man” with a quick sense of humor.

Pfc. Dennis M. Williams, 24, who was killed Tuesday, is survived by his wife, Maria, a young daughter and a newborn son, said Pat Adkins, a neighbor and former teacher of Williams.

Adkins said Williams “always had a funny comeback to everything.” She wants people to remember Williams for his “non-ending smile and his sense of humor.”

“He had a lot of friends because of that,” Adkins said. “Everybody loved Dennis.”

Adkins, a physical education teacher at Federal Way High School, not only taught Williams, who graduated in 2003. She also lives next door to the Steel Lake-area home where Williams grew up, and where his father, Dan, still lives. The parents are divorced; Williams’ mother lives in Buckley.

“We’re very heartsick,” Adkins said. “He just was a sweet young man.”

In high school, Adkins said, Williams loved to study auto repair and work on cars. After graduating from Federal Way High, Williams worked in security and sales jobs, Adkins said.

Williams, his wife and children lived in an apartment in Federal Way. Adkins said Maria and her husband talked about the dangers of his being deployed to Afghanistan.

“She cried a lot because she was scared,” Adkins said. “He was not in a good area.”

“I loved him with my whole heart,” Adkins said. “It’s almost like a family member when they’re you’re neighbor.”