Visitation will be on Friday, March 12, 2021 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Memorial Funeral Home. Burial to follow with full military honors at 2:00 pm in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Billy was born August 31, 1935 in Boone County to Leona (Smith) Slaughter. After graduating from Hickman High School in 1953, he joined the US Marine Corps where he reached the rank of Corporal as a marksman sharp- shooter.
After his military service, he went to work for Coca Cola Bottling Company as a route salesman for 23 years. He then changed careers in 1979 to work for the US Postal Service as a mail carrier in Columbia until his retirement in 2000.
Billy started playing pool in his teenage days and was hooked for life. He absolutely loved playing billiards and he would practice the same shot for hours at a time to perfect his game. One of his proudest moments was beating one of the best pool players of all time, Minnesota Fats, in an exhibition game at the Columbia National Guard Armory in the early 1970’s. As a member of the NAPA, APA and TAP pool leagues, he played in innumerable pool tournaments over 70+ years. He was especially fond of playing with all his friends and continued right up until the last few months prior to his death.
Billy loved watching all kinds of sports, and he was a huge fan of the MU Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. He loved to have family near, especially family meals where he always told entertaining stories of growing up.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Frances (Harmon) Smith of the home; children, Karen Renae (Smith) Borgers (Robert) and Derek Keith Smith; two grandchildren, Brittney Danielle Dyson and Zachary Noah Smith; and one great grandchild, Kamdyn Veyda Dyson, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Leona Slaughter; a son, Jeffery Duane Smith; two sisters, Carol Tyrrell and Connie Norman; and one brother, David Slaughter.
Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. 758541, Topeka, KS or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
