Billie Marie Biggerstaff

Billie was born on January 18, 1939, in Ector, TX, to James E. (Bill) Fendley and Thelma Marie Lambert.

The family moved to Ft. Worth, TX, when Billie was a child. She grew up in Fort Worth, where she

attended Handley High School. She was married to Alvah McKinney from 1956-1965. In 1971 she

married John Biggerstaff. Billie and John were married for over 50 years.

Billie’s life was full of adventures and experiences. At eight -years-old she sang a solo at the Southern

Baptist Convention. As a teenager she studied voice at the Ft. Worth Southwestern Theological

Seminary. She was also asked to take the lead soprano role with The Baptist Hour Choir, but had to turn

down the request because she had gotten married and was moving to Austin. While living in Austin

during her first marriage, she worked as the Assistant Buyer and Manager at the flagship E.M.

Scarborough and Sons department store. After moving back to Ft. Worth, she worked as an OB

technician in the delivery department at Harris Hospital. She also worked at the Ft. Worth Thoracic and

Cardiovascular Group in the mid-sixties. They were fortunate enough to work with a cardiac group from

Provo, Utah, in creating a mechanical heart.

After marrying John, Billie had the opportunity to live in and travel to various locations due to John’s

service in the US Air Force. While living at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, Billie worked at one of the AAFES

stores on base. She also served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Civil Air Patrol. While living in Northern

California, she worked as a GS12 accountant at the Mather AF Base Exchange. She also served as the

recording secretary for the McClellan AFB Officer’s Wives’ Club, president of the McClellan Clinic Wives’

Club, president of the women’s missionary union, was a Girl Scout leader, taught Sunday School at

Berean Baptist Church, and was a member of the Roseville High School Band Booster Club, a sponsor of

the Roseville HS Drama Club, and a sponsor of the Roseville HS cadet rifle club. After moving back for a

second stay at Barksdale AFB, Billie worked as assistant manager at Arnold’s Beauty Supply and started

her own home business decorating cakes. While having the opportunity of living in Okinawa, Japan, Billie

continued her cake decorating business, organized and taught conversational English for a Japanese

Christian Church, sang with the USAF Skylarks, and was the Officers’ Wives’ Club Volunteer of the Year

for her work at the club’s gift shop raising funds for Family Services. John’s final stint in the Air Force was

at Lackland AFB in San Antonio where Billie continued singing with the USAF Skylarks.

After moving to Commerce, Billie became very involved with the community. From 1988-91 she served

as the executive director of the Commerce Chamber of Commerce. She and John opened two businesses

in town, The Commerce News and CDs Plus. While running these businesses they often sponsored the

United Way. She also served on the Commerce City Council from 1994-2010, was a member of various

clubs including the Campbell Extension Club for over 37 years, the Delphian Club for 35 years, the Linda

Drake Garden Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Lions Club. She also owned a 1928 Ford Model A Sports

Coup and belonged to the Ft. Worth Model A Club. In September 1985 the club sponsored a meet with

the Guinness World Book of Records with a gathering of over 3000 Model A’s. Billie was the only female

to enter the driving contest that day and won first place. She was also a member of the First Baptist

Church of Commerce. She served on various boards and committees throughout the years including

being second vice-president of the South Sulphur Regional Development Board working with the

amphitheater at Cooper Lake, served on the East Texas State Media Advisory Board, was a chairman on

the Hunt County Leadership Advisory Board, participated in the Commerce Leadership Institute, served

for 20 years on the US Selective Service Board at the pleasure of President George W. Bush, and she

attended Texas Judicial School and served as a temporary municipal judge in Commerce. Billie received

many recognitions from various clubs and organizations including Commerce Chamber of Commerce for

her dedication to the Chamber and her continuing contributions to its programs and projects in 1992;

the Commerce High School Tiger Booster Award in 1992-93; the United Way for generous support in

1992; received the 2004 Communications Award from the Military Officers Association; received the Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Choice of Excellence Award in 2009 from the Hunt County African American

Leadership Conference and Rotary Club of Commerce; and received the 2014 Distinguished Community

Service Award from the Commerce Chamber of Commerce for outstanding public service and

betterment for the Commerce community.

She and John enjoyed extensive world travels to places such as Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, the Philippine

Islands, Korea, France, Germany, Switzerland , Holland, Lichtenstein, and throughout the US. Her

greatest joy, she said, was her three children. She also said she was blessed with God and how closely

He walked with her all through her life.

Billie is survived by her daughter Alvalin Woodul (Jim) of Killeen, son James McKinney (Mary) of

Arlington, and daughter Kelly Cotton (David Pike) of Raymondville; grandchildren Jamie Fitzjarrell

(Jeremy), Rebecca Woodul, Angela Woodul, Alli Penna, Megan Rodriguez (Steve), Mallory Cotton,

Melody Cotton, Haley McKinney, and Christopher McKinney; great-grandchildren Tyler Fitzjarrell,

Tanner Fitzjarrell, Cameron Brann, Cash Peterson, Milo Purvey, and John Atlas Cotton; brother Bobby

Fendley (Margaret) of Springtown, TX; nephews Marshall Fendley and James Brian Fendley, and a

multitude of cousins across the states. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and

great-grandson Liam Bridges.

A memorial will be scheduled at a future date to celebrate Billie’s life.