Mrs. Billie R Miles Kurney

Billie was a quiet child often enjoying her own company and playing with her siblings while in Calvert.

The family’s move to Yellow House Canyon and then into the City of Lubbock had Billie attending Escatado and Dunbar High Schools.

It was at Dunbar High School that her older sister Brenda (Cookie) made a fast friend in a fella named William Kurney.

Between Billie’s cute smile and winning a local swimsuit contest, William was HOOKED!

But Jennie B was having NONE OF THAT! While she was shooing William away from her young daughter (3 years behind him in school), William was plying Cookie with school lunches to let him know when the coast was clear for him to come calling on Billie!

As soon as the young marine returned from basic training, he and Billie became Mr. & Mrs. W.H. Kurney; beginning their journey to 46 ½ years of life and love on December 17, 1968.

To this union, 3 children were born: Joy Kurney Johnson (Preston) of Dallas, William Kurney, Jr. (Shauntae) of Grand Prairie and Angela Kurney (Corsicana).

Life for this young family wasn’t always easy, but William and Billie’s love for one another helped them through! In the midst of their reflections on war injuries, the racism they endured while buying and living in their first home in Kerns, to the varied health concerns related to cancer, diabetes, kidney failure and heart surgery – they ENDURED! Their love and life story is a TRUE example of the marriage vows “In sickness and health….until death do us part”!

Bill’s heart was her family! If ever one of her children or grandchildren needed her, she jumped in the passenger side of the car and said “GO!” AND…..William Howard gassed up and went!

While her love for her family will always be, her life here on earth enjoying her family, watching cooking and reality shows and whipping up the meals that brought family together ended on June 4, 2015. She slipped away as quietly as she lived, with her devoted and ever present husband and children by her side.

She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory, her devoted husband William Sr, children Joy, William Jr and Angela, grandchildren Jaleesa, Jasmine, Paige, Nicole and William III, 4 sisters (all of Corsicana) Brenda Bell, Marilyn Wright (Johnny), Francis Solomon (Glen) and Peggy Henderson, her beloved brother Curtis Simpson (Cheryl) of Tyler, 1 sister-in-law Ann Ogden and a host of other relatives in both the Dawson-Miles and Kurney families.

Preceding her in death are her parents, 1 sister Mary Lee Johnson, 2 sister-in-laws, 2 brother-in-laws, 1 niece and other precious family members.