Billy Ray Briscoe

Billy Ray Briscoe passed away Wednesday,  February 22, 2023 at the age of 89 in Mineral Wells, Texas.  He was born on October 31, 1933 in Graford, Texas to Arthur B. and Cora Worley Briscoe.  When Billy was three years old, his mother died as a result of tuberculosis and his grandparents came to Graford to help take care of the family which included an older sister, Margaret.  Sometime later, Billy’s father married Maude White who cared for he and his sister as if they were her own.

Billy began school in Graford.  Just before the United States entered World War II, the family moved to a 40-acre farm in the Progress Community.  It was at Progress School that Billy completed the early grades and then continued his education at Mineral Wells High School, graduating in 1951.  While in high school, Billy was an officer in the school’s first Distributive Education program.  Through this program, Billy began working for the Davidson family in their hardware store. Following high school graduation Billy attended Brantley-Draughon Business School in the evenings, studying bookkeeping and accounting.

Billy was a loyal, valuable employee of Davidson Hardware for many years.  When the Davidson family sold the business to Bob and Joyce Sturdivant, Billy continued as their employee and remained in the hardware business through two more owners. Late in his working career, Bob Sturdivant asked Billy to come to work for he and Vaughan Dunaway at Sturdivant-Dunaway Gas and Oil Distributors. It was here that Billy completed his working career and retired at the age of 70.

Just because Billy had retired did not mean he was finished working.  In addition to continuing the routine chores around the house, he enjoyed activities with his nephew, Larry Harrington, in farming and ranching.  Whether there was fence to build, equipment to be moved, a metal building to construct, cattle to move or hay to be hauled, he was ready for another day of work.  The question of the day was always “What are we going to do tomorrow”? 

Billy also spent many retirement hours cutting out wood pieces for his niece, Pat Harrington, to paint for Christmas gifts for friends and family or for use in craft projects for children in Vacation Bible School or Summer Music Activities for Kids.  Those pieces numbered into the thousands over a period of about thirty-five years. 

Billy was a Christian and an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church.  If it was Sunday or Wednesday night, he could be found at the church.  He participated in the church choir, served as a Deacon and the church treasurer for over thirty years.  His family is grateful for church friends who checked on him and kept him up to date on the church when he was no longer able to attend.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Cora Briscoe; the one he called “momma”, Maude Briscoe; his sister, Margaret Harrington and brother-in-law, Alek Harrington. 

He is survived by a nephew, Larry Harrington, a niece, Pat Harrington and two cousins, Barney Briscoe of Carrollton and Hobart Wayne Briscoe of Paris.   Friends like family who survive include Bobby and Aneta Baker and family. 

Funeral services will be at Immanuel Baptist Church, Monday, February 27 at 2 p.m. with visitation prior to the service at 1 p.m.  A graveside service will follow at Willow Pond Cemetery.

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