Billie Jean Railsback

Graveside Service to be held at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery on Friday, July 12th, 2024 at 10am, located at 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, Texas 75211

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Travis at Home Ministry at Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth.

Billie Jean (Allen) Railsback was born September 8, 1928 in Gordon, Texas and entered the gates of heaven on May 29, 2024. Billie was a faithful believer in and follower of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She sought to serve Him every day of her life.

She was preceded in death by her Mother and Father, Lillie Elizabeth (Davis) and Roy Boyd Allen; brother William Richard Boyd Allen; sisters Mary Francis LaVelle Buckner, Melba Louise Harbin and husband of 60 years Jack Moore Railsback.

She is survived by daughter Rita Shewmake (Roger) Fort Worth; son Robert Kern Railsback (Barbara) Athens.

Billie lived in Gordon where her Daddy worked for Lone Star Gas Co. and lost his job because of the depression, so they moved to Breckenridge, where her Grandparents, Richard and Ella Allen lived. They then moved to Morton Valley for about a year and then moved to Breckenridge. A small new Baptist Church was built and Billie started going to church there. She would take ice water to the workers each day while they worked on building the church. The preacher asked her to paint a picture for the baptistery. Billie became quite an artist after that opportunity. She painted for many years and Jack became her critic so she convinced him to start taking lessons with her. They painted many oil paintings together to share with family members and friends.

Billie moved to Aspermont and graduated from Aspermont High School in 1946. She was salutatorian and had a scholarship to Hardin Simmons in Abilene but the manager at West Texas Utilities (WTU) asked her to come work for him. She could not say no since her mother was very ill with cancer and her father needed help paying hospital bills. She worked there for 7 years during which time she met Jack Moore Railsback. On July 11, 1949 (Jack's 21st birthday), he moved to Aspermont and became the new county attorney. She married Jack on November 4, 1950. Jack joined the Air Force soon after they were married and was sent to Brooks AFB in San Antonio and then to Lackland Air Force Base where Rita (Shewmake) was born. Jack then started to work for Shell Oil Company in Midland. Robert Kern was born in Midland. In 1960, they then moved to Meridian where Jack became County Judge. In 1967, they moved to Iowa Park where Jack started to work at Sheppard AFB in the Judge Advocate Office. Billie started working with Edwin Brosch Jr, DDS in Wichita Falls and worked there for 18 years. Billie loved Halloween and Dr. Brosch made her a set of very distorted and twisted set of dentures that she wore every year for Trick or Treaters. They were members of First Baptist Church, Iowa Park, Texas for 43 years where she taught teenagers in Sunday School for many years.

Billie is known for kindness and hospitality to everyone who came in contact with her. She was very talented with her artwork, ceramics, and calligraphy which she enjoyed tremendously. She moved to Fort Worth to be with family and was a member of Travis Avenue Baptist Church.

Billie is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Bradley Worthy, Fort Worth; Bridget Scott (Andrew), Athens; Brian Worthy, Fort Worth and Robby Railsback (Tiffany), Bryan; Sarah Henry (Todd), Dallas and David Shewmake (Lee Ann), Archer City. Great Grandchildren include Landon Jack Worthy, Hannah, Willa and Cora Henry, Liam, Logan and Ayla Shewmake, and Kirsten, Waverly and Skylar Railsback.

Nieces and nephews include Juanell Potter (Brooks) Midland; Rita Karen Turner, White House; CoAnn Latham (Steve) Cedar Park; Sue Sanchez, Red Wood City, CA; Sheldon Buckner (Janine) Flower Mound; George Railsback, CA