Billy Ray Braden (Bill) born September 4, 1940, entered his Eternal Home on December 4, 2025. He shared his birthday with his triplet sisters, Lawanda Fay and Donna Kay, and they are now all rejoicing in Heaven.
Bill served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was drafted into the service September 3, 1963, and received his military combat training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Following the training, he was assigned to the Adjutant General Corp in Ft. Sill Oklahoma where he completed his Active-duty service and was honorably discharged on September 4, 1965. Following his discharge, he was assigned to US Army Reserves for four years. He was a proud American always displaying the US flag in front of every home he and his wife Betty owned.
After his military service he returned to his job as an Auditor with a major Houston oil field company for a few years. He then went to MetLife and worked for them for 33 years. When he retired from MetLife Betty was working as an RN at Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands. Bill started volunteering there and after a year they asked if he would like to work full-time. He then worked for them for 13 years; after which he went to Conroe Independent School District as a Crossing Guard for 6 years. He often said that was his favorite position, as he loved the elementary school kids. The kids also enjoyed "Mr. Bill” as they called him. Betty & Bill then moved to Roanoke, Tx in 2019 to be near their daughter Teri. As soon as they settled in Roanoke, he began delivering Meals on Wheels, which he did until his cancer diagnosis.
He is preceded in death by his parents Sherman and Jewell Braden, daughter Jacquelyn K. Braden, sisters Lawanda Fay Houston, Donna Kay Pugh, and brother Carl Braden and his wife Mary Ann.
He is survived by his wife Betty, married 56 years, daughter Teri Horne, brother Gale Braden and wife Barbara, and brother-in-law Otis Carlisle.
He is immensely proud of his wonderful grandsons Anthony Durst and husband Tommy Durst, Jonathan Melia and his partner Emily Heintz, Matthew and wife Brylee Melia, and is over the top proud of his Great Grandson James Braden Durst.
He is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins
Bill and Betty are longtime members of First Baptist Conroe. They were in the Fellowship Life Group Class. They served many years as Class Coordinator of Family Promise, a wonderful ministry serving homeless families that had fallen on bad times. Bill continued to remain active in the Church’s weekly streaming of the Sunday morning services. A celebration of life will be on Saturday, January 3, 2025, at 10:00 am at Cashner Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 1:00 pm at Hempstead Cemetery, 20 McDade St, Hempstead, TX 77445.
