Billy Ray Fitts

Billy Ray Fitts, of Mexia, passed away at a Dallas hospital on Thursday, September 1, 2011. He was 68. Visitation will be Friday, September 2, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 3, 2011, at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Michael Vestal of the Temple Baptist Church of Mexia officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Parker Memorial Park Cemetery in Groesbeck. Pallbearers will be Freddie Dawley, Dale Weaver, Brad McReynolds, Gary Finley, Dale Wilson, James (Bucky) Campbell, Mark Campbell, Scott Wilson and Jamie Campbell. Honorary pallbearers will be the Maintenance Department of the Mexia State Supported Living Center. Billy was born April 26, 1943, at Groesbeck, to John Knox Fitts and Viola (Dossey) Fitts. He was a graduate of Groesbeck High School, Class of 1961. Billy married Margaret Rae Campbell on May 6, 1966, at Mexia. They lived in Mexia all their life. Billy was employed at the Mexia State School for over thirty years, as supervisor of the maintenance department. He retired from MSS in 1995, and continued his life-long ranching operations in the Prairie Point community. He also was a certified livestock appraiser working independently as needed. He loved riding his horse, Buster, and driving the tractor, as long as his health permitted. And was always accompanied by his faithful wife Margaret in all his activities. He enjoyed rodeos. He was a faithful fan of the Groesbeck football and basketball games, and always wanted to attend wherever games in which his nieces and nephews were playing. His greatest wish the last few months, in spite of the serious health problems he was battling, was to be able to attend the up-coming 50th. Class Reunion. He had never missed a Reunion and was looking forward to this one. Billy was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Fitts of Mexia; his sister and brother-in-law, Johnnie and Dale Wilson of Groesbeck; brother-in-law, James Campbell and wife Marilyn of Rusk; brother-in-law, Mark Campbell and wife Ana Lou of Salado; cousin, Patsy Posey and husband, Dr. Delma Posey, of Temple; uncle, James Fitts of Waco; and numerous nieces and nephews.