Billye Lou Shofner

Billye was born February 20, 1924, to Octo Pleasant Roberts and Theresa Moore Roberts in Paoli, Oklahoma. Billye grew up on her grandparents farm in Durant, Oklahoma. Her grandmother would care for her as her parents had to walk three miles daily into town for work. Growing up she had a horse named "Ole Nell" and a German shepherd named "Ring Ting Ting" and called her "Ting". She rode Nell bareback all over the countryside with Ting following behind. She always had fond memories of the farm to share. One of the memories she held dear was running barefoot behind her grandmother plowing the fields and feeling the freshly plowed dirt folding over her feet.

After graduating from Paoli High School in 1943, she was recruited into the FBI in Washington D.C. to analyze and compare fingerprints. She worked there for a year, and then returned home to attend college at Oklahoma University only to be asked by her future father in law, superintendent of schools, to get an emergency certificate to teach in Amber, Oklahoma.

When Myron Lee Shofner came home from serving his country in October of 1945, they had their first date. Their families had been friends for years. Three months later, they announced their engagement to their families on Christmas morning. Myron and Billye were married on May 6, 1946, and moved to Stuttgart, Arkansas where he had his first optometry practice. On May 29, 1950, their first son Steven Lee Shofner was born.

In 1951, they moved to El Dorado, Arkansas for Myron to join the optometry practice of long time friend Greg Simpson. One year later, their daughter, Sylvia Ann Shofner was born on April 12, 1952. After living in El Dorado for four years, Mark Allen Shofner was born on April 27, 1956.

Billye was involved in many church and civic activities. She enjoyed working at the SAC lunch with friends. She was a member of The First United Methodist Church of El Dorado, a Sunday school teacher, a PTA president, a homeroom mother, Brownie leader, Campfire Girl leader, Cub Scout leader, Garden Club member, Athena Club member, board member of the YWCA, a member of four bridge clubs, just to name a few. Billye was an avid tennis player and loved the outdoors. She traveled the world with her friends and family. She was a rollerskating and bicycle riding grandmother who could never get enough of her grandchildren. She once said "My children and grandchildren are the embellishments of my life".

Billye is survived by her children Steven Shofner, Sylvia Shofner Ramsaur (Jack), Mark Shofner (Lisa), her grandchildren Angela Kerr (Nathan), Allison Valdez, Seth Shofner, and her great grandchildren Tristan Kerr, Jackson Kerr, Stella Valdez, and Gage Valdez.

Memorial Services will be at 10 am, Saturday, April 30, 2022 the First United Methodist Church of El Dorado with Dr. David Bush and Rev. Bill Odom officiating.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church at 201 S. Hill Avenue,

El Dorado, Arkansas, 71730 or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be shared at www.youngsfuneralhome.com for the Shofner family.