Billie Ruth Fargo

Billie Ruth (Bish) Fargo, loving and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and beautiful spirit passed away peacefully on August 12, 2012, after a courageous battle against cancer. She was 69 years young and was surrounded at the end by her adoring family who marveled at her courage, dignity, and shining radiance.

Billie was born on October 27, 1942, in Lawton, Oklahoma and was preceded in death by her father, Hugh W. Bish, former superintendent of schools in Lawton, and her mother, Marion Bish. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Bill Fargo, their daughter, Beth Nowlin and son-in-law, Jay Nowlin, son, David Fargo and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Fargo, daughter, Allison Hulett, all of The Woodlands, and brother-in-law, Michael Fargo, Santa Rosa, California. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Matt, Clark, John, Tatum, Sam, Katie, Emily, Sophie, Bill, Will, Anna, and Daniel.

Billie graduated with honors from Lawton High School in 1961 and attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in speech therapy. She married her husband, Bill, in 1962 and began a love affair lasting fifty years. She was his best friend, confidante, advisor, and sweetheart. Theirs was an inspiring marriage of equal and inseparable partners who shared a lifetime of mutual love and happiness. She was devoted to her family—a nurturing and caring mother and grandmother—generous, fun loving, and always available to help.

Billie paved a wide swath of joy, fun, and friendship, making lifelong friends throughout the world. All who passed her way were touched by her sense of humor, sense of adventure, deep intellectual curiosity, and profound spirituality. She made people feel special, and, to her, they were. She loved travel, art, music, architecture, literature, photography, and the performing arts. All things beautiful inspired and captivated her. She was the ideal travel companion, passionately exploring each destination. She loved spending summers in her beloved Haute-de-Provence in France and spent many years enjoying the beauty and peace of the French Alps where she cultivated lifelong friendships and entertained friends and family from Texas. She felt a deep responsibility to her community volunteering for and supporting many organizations including Junior Forum, Child Welfare and Women’s Shelters, Northwest Heart Association, and the Performing Arts. As a resident of Northwest Houston and The Woodlands for nearly 30 years, she immersed herself in countless community activities and events and could always be counted on to defend the vulnerable of our society. She walked this earth with unconditional love for her fellow man without regard for race, religion or any other attribute except a kind and truthful heart.

But above all, Billie was devoted to her family—constantly caring and fiercely loyal. She was our heart and soul, the magnet that drew us together and bonded us for life. Her love and example made all of us better people and is reflected in the beautiful families each of her children has created and sustained. It was her proudest accomplishment to see her children and grandchildren happy and loved. She gave all of us the greatest gift possible: a happy home and a lifetime of joy, fun, broad horizons, and, above all, love. So beyond the tears, grief, and sadness, we stand in humble gratitude for the blessings we have received from this remarkable and unique woman. The void she leaves is immeasurable, but so is her legacy and from this we draw solace and comfort. Go with God, sweet girl, until we meet again.

The family wishes to thank the amazing doctors, nurses and staff of MD Anderson Cancer Center for their valiant, creative, and relentless efforts on behalf of Billie. Their professionalism and caring attitude was unsurpassed in our experience and we are forever grateful. We wish to thank the wonderful caretakers of Vitas Hospice for giving her peace and comfort in her last days and would also like to thank Dr. David Cos for his personal care and consideration for Billie and the family.

And finally, we would like to thank the many friends of Billie for their amazing displays of kindness and generosity throughout her illness. Their love, warmth, and assistance will be forever appreciated.

A celebration of Billie’s life is set for 11:00 A.M., Monday, August 20, 2012 in the Chapel in the Woods at Fellowship of The Woodlands, 1 Fellowship Dr., The Woodland, TX 77382. A private graveside service will be held at Forest Park The Woodlands Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486; www.mdanderson.org or the charity of your choice.