Billy Dean Davis

Billy Dean Davis, of Ben Hur, passed away Thursday, November 24, 2011, at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco, at age 67. Visitation will be Sunday, November 27, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, November 28, 2011, at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Gary Kreder of the First Baptist Church of Mart officiating. Burial will follow in Kirk Cemetery. Billy Dean was born August 21, 1944 to R.C. Davis and Jessie (Crisp) Davis at Ben Hur. He grew up in Ben Hur, and attended school there until it closed, and then graduated from Mart High School in 1963. He was the oldest boy in a large family with older sisters, so he was always their pet. Billy Dean grew up ranching and driving a tractor for his Dad, starting when he was 5 years old. He grew up with horses, Champ being his favorite. Billy ranched all his life, and enjoyed being on a horse, and having a cowdog. He also enjoyed bird hunting. While he was ranching, he also worked over twenty years at General Tire in Waco, until it closed. He was the “go-to” guy always willing to help anyone who needed a cowboy. Billy had friends everywhere, and enjoyed talking with them, drinking coffee, and telling cowboy stories (or “tall tales.”) He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mart. Billy Dean was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Larry Davis; and a niece, Loren Davis. He is survived by his son, Billy Dean Davis, Jr. and his wife Jenni of Arlington; his daughter, Catrina Nicol “Nicky” Davis Nobles and her husband, J.D. Nobles of Mart;two grandsons, Lane Nobles of Mount Calm and Rozen Nobles of Mart; two granddaughters, Cami Davis and Bri Davis of Arlington; and a great grandson, Kayden Lane Nobles of Mount Calm; four sisters, Laverne Oliver of Ben Hur, Bobbie Jean Thorne of Mexia, Margie McFarland of Dallas, Mary Mitchell of Pearland; three brothers, Donald Davis of Nacogdoches, Jackie Davis of Eddy, and Randy Davis of Houston; and many nieces and nephews.