Billie Boyd Hudspeth

Billie Boyd Hudspeth, born August 6, 1917, died on March 23, 2009. She was the first child of Marion L. Boyd and Willoughby Crow Boyd. She grew up in Palestine, Texas and moved to Houston as a teenager. She graduated from San Jacinto High School and received her B.A. from Rice Institute in Houston. In 1938, she married William J. Hudspeth, her devoted husband, who predeceased her in 2003 after 64 years of marriage. They lived in Houston until 1978 when they retired to live in the home that they had built at Lakeway. She was also predeceased by her parents, Marion L. Boyd and Willoughby Crow Boyd Byers and her sister, Margery Boyd Kellogg. She is survived by her children, Claire H. Daviss and husband, David B. Daviss of San Antonio; her son, William J. Hudspeth, Jr. and wife Sheri Gallo of Austin; her son, Robert Boyd Hudspeth and wife Julie of Kansas City, Missouri; her half sister, Ann Boyd Royall of Palestine, Texas, and her half sister, Marion Boyd Baker and husband, Rhodes S. Baker, III of Dallas. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Amy Daviss Zesch and her husband, Hal; Dr. Burleson Daviss and his wife, Betsy; Mary Claire Daviss Munroe and her husband, Mike, all of San Antonio; Jenny Hudspeth Stone and her husband, Morgan of Austin and Ann M. Hudspeth of Redmond, Washington; Lisa Omlie and her husband, Blake of London, England and Katie Coff and her husband, Tim, of New York City. Also surviving are 16 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was completely devoted to her husband and her family. In addition to being an excellent cook, avid golfer and an accomplished painter, she was an advisor, counselor, disciplinarian and voice of reason to her children, their friends and the extended family. She was best described by Hank Hudspeth, her brother-in-law as "fiercely independent". The family would like to thank Clare Hudspeth for her kindness during Mom's later years. And, thanks also to the wonderful staff at The Summit, Westlake, for their care and attention to Mom's every need-especially Helen, Jerry, Gloria, Pat and Mercedes. A memorial service will be held at Lakeway Memorial Gardens at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to the Bill and Billie Hudspeth Scholarship Fund, c/o Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892.