Billy Ray Anderson

Billy Ray Anderson, formerly of the Old Union community, passed away at Longview on Sunday, October 29, 2017, at age 83. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 31, 2017, rom 6:00-8:00 P.M. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at Victory Baptist Church (Hwy. 14-S, Groesbeck), with Brother Ben David Watson officiating. Burial will follow in Cox Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Roy DeFriend, Morris DeFriend, Chris Henson, Jim Hanson, Roger Pemberton, and Shawn Pemberton. Honorary pallbearers will be Dennis Wilson, Warren Miller, John McCarver, and the Deacons of Victory Baptist Church. Billy was born December 9, 1933, at Wichita Falls to Lee C. Anderson and Eva Jack Anderson. Billy and his twin sister Betty were the youngest in a family of four children. Billy’s mother was known to the family as Mommy Anderson. Following completion of the tenth grade, Billy joined the Air Force. He served for one year, was honorably discharged and returned to continue his education, graduating in 1952. After high school, Billy married Carol Joy Lee. She became seriously ill within a few months. Carol Joy passed away at age 21, leaving Billy with two baby girls, Sheri and Linda, ages 2 and 1. Billy took care of the girls and pastored a church in Marshall while attending the Baptist college. While living in Marshall, he met Gwina Dene Powell. They married in 1957 and had two children Lauri and Richard. After graduating from the seminary, Billy received a Master’s Degree from East Texas State University. Billy joined the U. S. Army Reserves as a chaplain. He retired in 1993 as a Major, after twenty-two years of military service. Billy then took a position with Texas Rehabilitation Commission in Houston and worked as a supervisor of counselors serving the disabled population. Later he worked with the Texas Department of Corrections for inmate vocational counseling. He continued to pastor smaller churches. In 1977, Billy and Dene moved to Oletha and he worked at Mexia State School. He served as pastor for Central Baptist Church in Thornton and also worked as administrator at Limestone Medical Center in Groesbeck. Billy pastored Victory Baptist Church between Groesbeck and Thornton, where he served for over nineteen years. In 2013, Billy wrote a book, “The Lord’s Prayer” which was an intensive study of this message, with a short autobiography of his own life. Billy married Grace Purdy in 2016, at Victory Baptist Church, and they moved to Longview. Grace was a loving wife and friend. She opened her home with love and devotion to Billy and his family. Billy was always happy to see his family and pleased to receive news from Victory Baptist Church. Billy was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Carol Joy; his daughter, Sheri Patterson; brother, Charles Anderson; sisters, Betty Hughes and Eva Lee Woolaver; and his second wife, Dene Powell Anderson. Billy is survived by his wife, Grace Anderson; daughter Linda Pemberton, son, Richard Anderson, daughter Lauri Anderson, sons-in-law, Roger Pemberton and T.L.Taylor. Grandchildren: Shawn Pemberton, John and wife Lara Patterson, Michelle Jolley, Shelby Anderson, Shannon Anderson, R.C. Anderson, Shayla Anderson, and geat grandsons, Donovan Jolley and T.J. Jolley.