Billie J. Box

Billie J. Box, of Willow Creek near Kosse, went home to be with the Lord, after a period of illness, on Monday, December 20, 2010. He was faithfully attended by his loved ones in his home, and was 92. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 21, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Joe Tucker and Dale Wells officiating. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Cody Riedinger, Bill Riedinger, Patrick Rogers, Kennon Chalene, Ron Chalene, and Scott Chalene. Billie was born November 7, 1918 to William John Box and Lottie Azelie (Humphries) Box at Bremond. He grew up and attended school in the nearby rural area. He met his future wife when he was 12 years old at the Willow Creek church-school. When he was 17, Billie was united in marriage with Avis Loraine Pace, on February 15, 1936, at Bald Prairie. They moved to Houston where he worked until he joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he served stateside in California. After the military, he joined his Dad and uncles in a career as a boiler-maker. The family lived in Houston while he traveled all over the United States building grain and oil tanks. The family loved joining him in the summers, and he enjoyed showing them the scenic places of this country. Some years before he retired, Billie and Avis moved back to the homeplace near where they first met. When he retired at 62, he farmed and raised livestock. He was the faithful caretaker of the Ebenezer Cemetery for forty years and also the Thornton Cemetery for about ten years. He took a lot of pride in his work, and installed his work ethic in the grandson. Billie loved his grandchildren and invested a lot of himself in them. He was a very dear father and grandfather, and will be greatly missed. He was formerly a Deacon at the Bald Prairie Baptist Church, and later was a member of the Oletha Baptist Church. Mr. Box was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Dorothy Sue Higginbotham; and a grandson, Stephen Layne Rogers. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Avis Loraine Box of illow Creek; four daughters, Gwen Chalene of Mission, Kansas, Belva Rogers and husband Bobby of Buckner, Arkansas, Darlene Brown and husband Jimmy of Thornton, and Gayla Riedinger and husband Billy of Thornton; eight grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Reba Stacy of Boliva, Missouri, and Nita Hanes of Cleveland, TX; and three brothers, Charles Box of Cleveland, TX, Leldon Box of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Kenneth Box and wife Saunie of Georgetown.