Billie Wayne Conway

TUSCOLA: Billie Wayne Conway, 88, passed from this life to spend eternity with his Lord on Monday, December 10, 2018. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 1:00pm in the Buffalo Gap Church of Christ sanctuary, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held at the church before the service starting at noon.

Bill was born May 8, 1930 at home near Hatchel, Texas, to Isaac and Blanche Conway.

He married Velma Louise (Davis) Conway on November 11, 1947. They raised two children, Darrell and Barbara.

Bill and Velma began their life together on a cotton farm in Hatchel, until the severe drought of the fifties forced them to pursue other sources of income. They moved to Ingram, Texas in 1956 where Bill worked as a Deputy Sheriff of Kerr County and together, they operated a Texaco Service Station in Ingram. Bill and Velma moved nearby to become Ranch Managers for the Captain Eddie Rickenbacker game ranch caring for many exotic species of imported wildlife.

Bill later engaged in the trucking industry, where he worked for a road construction company and owned several trucks used to haul building materials for new highways. After their children were grown and married, Bill and Velma traveled all over the state of Texas together building roads and highways.

They later retired in the Elm Valley area where they had purchased land. There they collected antiques and memorabilia, attended estate sales, flea markets, and trade fairs. Bill and Velma spent their last years enjoying life together. Velma preceded Bill in death on March 9, 2016.

Bill loved to tell stories and spend time with family and others. He was an avid outdoorsman, liked fishing and loved hunting deer and pheasants. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tell of his adventures. He had an even greater love for his Savior Jesus Christ and lived his life well. He was always patient with others, a man of integrity, and always had a big smile on his face as a greeting. Those who knew him well loved him.

Bill is survived by his children, daughter, Barbara Kotrlik of Merkel and son, Darrell Conway and wife Janice of Abilene; sister Jo Ann Barta of Ballinger; brother Curtis Conway of Tuscola; brother Wes Conway and wife Betty of Amarillo. Grandchildren: Christine Smith, Alice Barron, Angela Conway, Lee Kotrlik, and Sandra Nichols; Great Grandchildren: Erika, Sara, Justin, Kyle, Kayla, Nicholas, Noah, and Matthew.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, wife Velma(2016), and son in law Eddie Kotrlik.