William Alva and Ora Spillers Wyrick. She passed from this life on December 17, 2018
at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Mabank, Texas.
Billie grew up in Lancaster and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1945. She
worked a year at an insurance company in downtown Dallas and in 1946 married J.M.
Smith. They were married 48 years and had two children, Michael and Patricia. While
the kids were growing up, Billie was active in their school activities, chauffeuring to
piano and dance classes, planning parties, and always welcoming their friends to their
house. In 1964, Billie went to work as the secretary to the high school principal. She
worked there for years, mentoring many young teachers and making an impact on the
lives of many students. Later, she moved to the administration office and served as
school board secretary as well. Billie and J.M. moved to Tool, Texas in retirement. They
both loved to fish, to scour the back roads for yard sales, and just getting out with
friends. Billie loved to work in the yard and garden, feed her birds, and entertain guests.
After J.M.’s death in 1994, she and daughter Pat moved to Mabank closer to Pat’s work.
She loved Pat’s students and co-workers and became a babysitter for friends and
neighbors. When she began attending the Mabank church of Christ, Billie became
known to the kids as Mamaw B. She loved helping with children’s classes, especially
the babies in cradle roll.
Billie was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary Lois Chapman, her brother
Reynolds Wyrick, her son Michael Smith, and her husband J.M. Smith. She is survived
by daughter Patricia and husband Larry of Mabank, her adopted son and daughter
Sherry and David Beck of Mabank, and her beloved granddaughter Charity Faith Lowry
who was were pride and joy. She is also survived by niece Cindy Merritt and her two
sons Mitch and Chris Ballard and their families; nephew Phil Wyrick and his wife Brenda
their daughters Lyla and Savannah; niece Kerrie Picou and husband Mark and daughter
Jill. She will be remembered by many other family members and friends, by the
children she helped raise and by countless others whose lives she touched.
