Billy Kyle Stone

Billy Kyle “B.K.” Stone, of Groesbeck, passed away at Limestone Medical Center in Groesbeck, on Monday, February 5, 2024.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the Church of Christ in Groesbeck, with Brothers Clif Fox and Richard Williams officiating, and congregational singing led by Gary Smith. Burial will follow in Criswell Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Brooke Dodd, Presley Stewart, Cody Stone, Kyle Stone, Jordan Wietzikoski, Jace Wietzikoski, Sean Stone, Blake Stone, and Will Stone. 

Honorary pallbearers will be the elders of the Groesbeck Church of Christ: John Billingsley, Ken Neyland and Richard Williams, and the Deacons: Rand Bates, Bill Oates, Virgil Peterson, Travis Warren, and Dale Wilson.

Billy Kyle was born on September 6, 1930, the son of Charlie and Shirley Mae Stone, in the Little Elm community.  He was the middle child in a family of nine children.   His older brothers were Charles, Jr., Marshall and G. Z. “Peaches.”  His younger brothers were W.N. and Jack.  His older sister was Louise and the two younger sisters were Maxine and Martha.

He grew up in a loving farm family.  He plowed with mules and later graduated to a tractor.   He loved working in the dirt and raising farm animals.   His education began at the school in Ben Hur.  He graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1948.  In   his senior year, he was entrusted with the job of driving the school bus in his community. 

After graduating, he farmed for himself and his father.  His older brothers were drafted into the Army and he was allowed to stay and his help his father.

Billy Kyle met a young woman from Ft. Parker in high school.  They and his sister Maxine and Travis Smith double dated.  They went to the Limestone Theater on Saturday night, to church on Sunday, to the local lake, and sometimes to Cameron Park in Waco (and once to watermelon patch for a free melon.)  He waited two years for this girl to marry him.   When Alta graduated in May, they planned a fall wedding in September.  He was 20 and she was 16.  On September 15, 1950, with Maxine and Travis as their attendants, Malcom Smith as the preacher, and G. Z. “Peaches”, John Deen and Lee Roy Rader as guests, they were married.  Alta’s mother said it would never last.

B.K. continued farming and worked as a carpenter and Alta worked as a book-keeper for Barnes and McLean.  They lived on various farms in the area.  B.K. bought his beloved tractor and a new Ford pickup.  Alta said “we have been in debt ever since.”

Steve was born in 1952, giving Alta a new career.   Becky followed in 1954, John Alan in 1956.  He was killed in a butane explosion and was buried at Criswell Cemetery.  Karen blessed the family in 1958, Kevin in 1961, and Ellen in 1963.  The family was now complete.

They lived in Marlin for 9 years but came home to the corner at 423 N. Archer in Groesbeck in 1963.

B.K. worked at General Tire in Waco, baled hay, raised cows and a Christian family.  He was kind, even tempered, loved good food, and visiting with family and friends.

On Christmas Eve this past year, Alta looked out and saw his truck backing out of the driveway.  Karen called and asked “are you missing a husband?”  “Yes.”  He visited with Karen at the farm and drove himself home.  He said, “I just wanted to go to the farm one more time.”  B.K. and Alta had a wonderful Christmas with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Alta’s only brother, Morris Beaver and his wife, Marcia and their children were a small family and a loving one.  Morris Dean died in April 2023.

Martha LeNoir, Martha Hawkins Stone, Patricia Stone and Travis Smith are the only surviving members of the Stone clan.

B.K. had been in the hospital several times last year and the entire hospital staff  treated him royally, but he always wanted to go home, and now he has.

Survivors are Alta, his wife of 73 years; Becky and Michael Wilson, Karen and Kenneth Wietzikoski, Kevin and Lesa Stone, and Ellen Stewart.   Steve died at age 55 of renal carcinoma.

The 9 grandchildren and their spouses are:   Cody and Shelbie Stone, Brooke and Ryan Dodd, Jordan and Trish Wietzikoski, Kyle and Melanie Stone, Jace Wietzikoski, Sean and Katie Stone, Blake and McKenzie Stone, Will and Brittany Stone, and Presley Stewart and John Schoeneman.

The great grandchildren are: Haley and Jacob Glick, Cash and Colt Stone, Emmersyn and Brittyn Dodd, Kylee and Addy Wietzikoski, Reed and Kynlie Stone, Bryndle and Brand Stone, Bryson Stewart, and Kezleigh Schoeneman.   The great-great grandchildren are Macey and Miley Glick.   Janet Stone and her son Logan complete this family circle.