We Honor the passing of JAMES MAURICE BILLINGS, SR., at the age of 91, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Conroe, Texas. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was born April 1, 1932, in McAllen, Hidalgo Co, Texas at McAllen Municipal Hospital to Everett Allen Billings and Amie Bessie Cofer Billings. He graduated from High School in Pharr, Texas in 1950. He had a paper route then worked at the Cactus Drive-In Theatre. After graduation he worked with Pharr Nurseries for a while (a tropical plant wholesale grower) then got a job at Central Power and Light Company in Pharr, Texas until Uncle Sam wanted his presence for two years. Basic Training in Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas was followed by another eight weeks in an electronics school to learn about radar. The remainder of the tour was spent in Anchorage, Alaska. In the spring of 1956, his discharge to be executed in Oregon allowed the opportunity for him to drive down the Alaskan Highway from Anchorage to Washington State then returned to work at Central Power and Light Company in Pharr, Texas. Later he transferred to their branch in Corpus Christi, Texas and continued his college education that had been interrupted by Uncle Sam. He attended Del Mar Junior College in Corpus Christi and graduated from the University of Corpus Christi with a BS degree in Accounting with a minor in Economics.
He married Pearl Bingham on December 19, 1959 at Wood Avenue Baptist Church in Raymondville, Texas. They lived in Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, Montgomery, Yoakum, and Willis. He lived in Conroe, Texas for his final years. He worked at North Texas Federal Savings and Loan Association when he lived in Wichita Falls, Texas. He worked at Westlin Oil Company when he lived in Montgomery, Texas and worked at Hochheim Prairie Insurance when he lived in Yoakum, Texas where he retired. After retirement, He was fascinated with his genealogy and traced his lineage back to Adam and Eve. He also loved to travel and took his kids to 49 of the 50 states before they were out of High School. He left Hawaii for the kids to do on their own but took his beloved wife on an Anniversary trip to Hawaii. He also travelled to Europe with his wife and daughter to visit one of his sons who was living there at the time and visited Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and England. When not traveling, he would relieve his stress by building rock walls while terracing the lake lots on the weekends.
He and his wife had 3 children: James M. Billings, Jr., Michael A. Billings and Dana S. Billings Hamilton. They also have 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by both his parents and his wife of 62 years and 4 of his 5-siblings passed before him and only one left living which is his youngest brother, Don.
The Viewing will be on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 9am with a short Graveside Service at 10am lead by Rev. Dan Alexander at Cashner Funeral Home and Garden Park Cemetery, Conroe, Texas.
