She was the most entertaining teacher of my whole 2 year degree! She had a gift of teaching and she was super dignified the way she did it ! It was a real treat being in her class ! God Bless You & your family for your loss !

I had the pleasure of being one of Dr. Laney's psychology students in the early 90s. My favorite takeaway was her admission to eating dessert first. She stated, "Why not eat what you like best first?" You may not have any room at the end of a meal. That memory has stuck with me for all these years. Thank you for your wonderful tutelage and fond memories.

Jeff Adams
Tyler, TX

Hello,
I had Dr. Laney for Psychology classes at CTC in 1973-1975. She was a wonderful teacher. I kept in touch with her until about 1997. I will always have wonderful memories of Dr. Laney. She will be in my heart forever. I mourn her passing.
James Stephen Wommack, DDS

I was fortunate to be in Dr. Laney's class at the beginning of my (1972) college career. Both my father, George Hanger, and husband followed taking classes from Billie and Stan. Later the little girl we all heard so many delightful stories about was in one of my first classes that I taught. Johnsa was in my 8th grade Earth Science class at Nolan Junior High. Through the years, as I pursued my PhD., I successfully used Dr. Laney's teaching technique of sharing personal experiences tied into the college course content. Thank you Dr. Laney for being such a wonderful role model. You will be missed terribly.
My parents, George and Traude Hanger of Killeen and my family sends their condolences to Johnsa and her family.

I knew Billie's mother, Ms. Ruby Johnson before I knew Billie.  She was grown and had left Avinger for years when we became acquainted at homecoming at First Methodist in Avinger.  She was warm and witty and I kept up with her through Janelle over the years.  Having been friends with Claire all my life, I heard about Billie and Johnsa from her.  I know Billie was one of a kind, and she was a fashionista to the mostest!  Rest in Peace my friend.  God bless you Johnsa.    Dinah McCain

My heartfelt condolences to Johnsa and all of Billie's family and friends.  She was a very special lady and I am honored to have been her colleague and friend.

Wynona Alexander

Billie dear, you know I love you more! I shall always treasure the privilege of your friendship. Thank you for sharing your love of Christmas and beautiful things with me. I thought I loved Christmas until we created beauty together! Thank you for letting me make lights twinkle in your home. I shall treasure the memories of Anna and I working together to see you smile at the end.
Your kindnesses, your elegance, your warm heart, and your love touched so many and I am so happy I was one of them.
My beautiful lady, I miss you now and always will. There will never be another Billie Laney, the beautiful, elegant lady wearing her hats with grace always!
Johnsa dear one, your Mother is smiling down on you because of the grace and honor you are showing in organizing her celebration of life. You are a special daughter! I love you as I do your Mother.
Hugs, Belinda

My sympathy to Johnsa and her family.  I took Dr. Laney's psychology class 1972-1973 at CTC.  I loved the way she taught her class using her life experiences.  It seems we all knew Johnsa.  I have often thought of Dr. Laney and wondered how she was.  I am deeply sorry for a great loss to your family.

Billie , you are always so thoughtful and kind in every way , in happiness for others , giving your all,  sweet advise and it's all through your charismatic passion, in helping others . I will always cherish our talk session after making sure your facial skin has my undivided attention. You will be missed by me and my family who have grown to love you so so very much . Our angel in heaven !

Dr. Laney was my favorite professor at CTC!  She was an amazing teacher and cared so much for all of her students!  I know I will always have fond memories of those classes and this wonderful lady!

Drs. Billie and Stan were both my teachers.  They were both remarkable.  I will always remember Billie fondly, both in her charisma and in her high fashion.  I love hats, and she always wore a hat to the theater.  I know she saw at least 2 dozen of my shows and would always hang around to pay me a very kind compliment.  There will never be anyone like her again.

This beautiful lady made an everlasting impact on me during my college years in the early 70's.  My best memory was seeing her walk into class wearing the most colorful ensemble. And that smile....one of a kind. Later when I had my daughter and we'd come home to visit my parents who lived down the street from her and her husband,  we would be outside and she'd stop,  I'd carry my little girl over to the car and she would hold my daughter's hand as we'd chat. She always lit up when I asked about her Johnsa.  She left everyone better for knowing her. Sympathy to her family and dearest friends.

Dr. Laney was a big part of the nursing students experience at CTC.  She was a very gifted teacher.  I graduated in 1976.  I worked at Scott and White for 38 years and enjoyed seeing Dr. Laney in the clinic at random encounters.  She was always dressed to the nines and interested in my life.  She was special. Johnsa she used your life examples in her teaching.  I feel that I know you. We have met but only briefly.  We were all blessed to call Dr. Laney our friend.  May God bless you in this time of celebration of a life well lived.

My deepest condolences to Johnsa and family.  Billie was one of the most unique  and lovely women I have ever known... she will be missed by all whose lives she  touched.  Though the voice is quiet, the spirit echoes...forever and ever, amen.

Dr. Laney was one of the most wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She had a zest for life, like no other! I loved hearing stories of her family and friends. Her smile made you smile! She has left a lasting impression on so many and will be greatly missed. Sending love and thoughts to her family and friends.

Peter and I extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Billie Laney. She was a grand lady and loved by all. She will be truly missed.

Dr. Laney was a wonderful inspiration to many students and she will be sincerely missed. My condolences to her family and friends.

I had the pleasure of having Dr. Laney as a teacher at CTC in 1978. It was one of my first college classes but I never forgot her and her positive attitude. Years later I would run into her around town, she would always stop to say hi and ask how things were going. Dr. Laney's presence will be missed but her spirit will live on in all who knew her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.

Probably my most unforgettable teacher. She wowed everyone she met and taught. It was an honor to have been in her classroom. You will forever be missed. ~ Rachel Owens Sizemore

Dear Billie, I have a hole in my heart. You are my best friend - 43 years ago Stan told us to be friends and it worked. You loved my family. You were my encourager. You changed my life. You told me I could anything I wanted to do and I did. You know I will take care of Johnsa.  See you later❤  Barb

I loved her class at CTC.  It was one of my favorites.  She was a great teacher.

Patty Honnerlaw

I remember Dr. Laney so well ...l she inspired my love of learning and belief in myself ... It has been many years since I attended CTC ... When I walked through the doors I did not know if I had what it would take to excel in learning and life.  She lit a spark that has never died .  Peace and Blessings Dr. Laney

I loved this lady, and I use that term deliberately, because Billie Laney was definitely  a lady. She's probably the person most responsible for me loving psychology and choosing that as my major after I came to accept that criminal justice wasn't going to be my future. She was one of the most genuine people we could ever hope to have teach us, or our kids, or anybody out there we care the slightest bit about. There are so many memories about her that are flooding my mind right now, while tears fill my eyes.

When I told her I was going to go down to check out this University of Houston-Clear Lake, a school I'd just learned about as my next step after graduating from CTC, she began telling me about it and some of her friends who were part of the original faculty when it opened. Billie taught with her heart, using real life illustrations to hammer home her lessons. When you learned about a subject from her, you also got to learn about the most important people in her life, her family. You learned about the struggles she faced when her husband Stan faced the prognosis of an inoperable brain tumor the size of a walnut; how she put her life together after losing her best friend; you learned about her daughter going to her alma mater, SMU; you learned about conversations she had with her mother, including to not do like all those other widows and get a red Cadillac...and, yes, she got a red Cadillac; you learned about her doing things to keep her health and nutrition up, and exercising with canned goods to keep her arm strength up.

Thinking about it, I still use some of her quotes in my daily language today, almost 20 years later.

I love you, Billie...thanks for everything. (And, yes, I've shared that very sentiment with her on more than one occasion.)

I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family. Thanks for sharing this special gem with all of us!

Billie was such a force of nature!  I first met her at CTC and ended up taking every class she taught.  I only took one of Stan's classes which I flunked. She and Stan hosted me and my KHS prom date and allowed us to use their home for photos.  She was such a gracious lady.  Heaven will be a brighter place and I am selfishly sad that I won't bump into her at church in Killeen anymore.  Condolences to Johnsa and family.

I have enjoyed our long friendship and will miss Billie at church and around town.  Many condolences.

Dr Laney was by far my favorite professor. She listened, cared, and taught me to understand people more. The world certainly will be less without her. I will be praying for her family. Thank you Dr Laney for never making us feel like just a taken seat when in your presence.

Billie came to Killeen after completing her PhD at Commerce. Being an East Texas girl, she was not so impressed with the summer weather in Killeen. Stan landed jobs for them at CTC and was very excited about the possibilities of the new Community College. Bobbie was enrolled in Stan's class. One day he came to her and said Billie was very unhappy and asked Bobbie to be her friend. We had them over for supper and the friendship began in the fall of 1970. Billie loved teaching and touched numerous lives at CTC and in the community. She loved going to the FHOOM for Easter and Mothers Day brunch which became a joint family tradition. We helped her bury several of her cats over the years, and poor Stan was allergic to them all. A rememberable vacation trip was our visit to all of thr Texas Revolution battle fields. Billie and I served on the CTC Foundation Board for many years and she was most generous in providing scholarships for students. She loved her students, her faculty colleagues, her family, and her Lord God. Billie you shall remain a precious love forever.

I am a former student of both Dr. Laney's from the early 70's.
While I am sure I did not impress her much with my effort at the time she made a huge impression on me with the way she treated all people with respect, dignity,and fairness and I have remembered her and her husband my entire life. Both were a class act.

So sorry for your loss,Johnsa. Your mom will be greatly missed. Hugs to you. 
Becky Judkins

What a remarkable woman who will be greatly missed by many!!!! She will always be remembered!❤❤❤

Her class was my favorite. Loved the watches. She will truly be missed.
Wanda Gunter

Dr. Laney was an amazing professor who has touched many lives directly and indirectly.  She taught 3 generations in my family...my mother in law, me, and my son.  That is quite a feat. Prayers for her family and friends.

Your a beautiful Angel now. You will be missed

Words cannot describe the sadness I felt reading this. I was just speaking with my little girl about my classes I took, and how I never liked any of my classes except hers. I loved her way of teaching. She was a remarkable women and I was so honored to be in her classroom. From hearing all the stories of her husband to her getting her morning coffee. You ran through my mind Dr. Laney you will truly be missed. R.I.H

You inspired me to be my authentic self.. and made me challenge myself to be Awesome just as you were
.Love U 
Dr B.J. Laney

An inspiration to learn and expand the mind...  Truly my most favorite and cherished teacher.  Condolences to her family.  I know how much she missed her beloved husband, no doubt in my mind their reunion was glorious!  Your memory, Dr. Laney, will never be far from my heart.

I was in Dr. Laney's classes at CTC-I loved her-she was one of a kind!  Always so much fun!  She will be missed-but never forgotten...
Mary Ann Nobles Haddad(Bandera, Tx)

Dr. Laney was one of my favorite professors...Loved her stories of Johnsa when she was a little girl, especially the one when she had her walking shoes painted black...Will definitely miss her smiling face!

I had Dr  Laney's classes at CTC.  I truly loved her.  I also sat by her in church years later.  She will be missed.  I love the pictures.

Sandra Nobles-Bollenbeck (Killeen Tx)

Dr. Lainey was a professor of mine in college and I always looked forward to her classes.She was a rare gem and she will be dearly missed. Hope to see you again in Heaven Dear lady!!!
Karen Wright

Those pictures brought tears to my eyes! What a wonderful friend to so many. I will miss her sweet, sweet spirit and those hats. Always elegant in her appearance and demeanor.

Billie Laney was my cherished friend for 55 years, starting with college at then East Texas State University, until her sweet soul passed to eternity. Her late husband, Stan, was my best friend and we all shared many happy times together. Billie was a unique person who lived life to the fullest with class, love, joy, faithfulness, humor, integrity and loyalty to her family and friends. As a college professor she leaves a legacy of genuine caring for each of her students as individuals. She will live on through the memories of all whom she touched in such special ways.

What a privilege to have had the opportunity to call this lady my teacher, mentor, colleague, and most especially friend. To have been gifted the gift of her ongoing support, encouragement, and love is one of the greatest gifts I could have ever been given. I am who I am today largely due to this ladies ongoing belief in me. There are no words that could adequately express my appreciation and love for her. I have been changed for the better by my time of knowing her. I love dear one and will miss you terribly. Your lasting legacy will love on through all of us who were touched by you. Johnsa, your mother was precious and will always be one of the most cherished memories and friends I have ever had. Love to you and the family during your times of remembering this remarkable loans classy lady.

The pictures are wonderful - thanks for including them!  We'll miss Billie so much. She lived her life with flair and marked every encounter with kindness.  It's very hard to believe that she's gone.

Oh we will miss you, Dr. Laney!! You were our teacher, our friend, our neighbor. Your style and kindness will always set the standard! Fond memories will abound forever with your legacy! We love you!

Billie--my friend, my room-mate, my cousin who became my sister.  I will miss you so very much, but I am so grateful to have had you in my life from childhood until now.  Until we meet again.  I love you. Janelle

Your light will forever shine through all of us who were affected by your teaching, your grace and your love.... who you are will be carried into eternity ❤ Wendy

Dear Heart, Everything is more beautiful because you lived. The seeds you planted will continue to make the world a lovelier place. I promise you I will remember what you taught me; cheerfulness in all circumstances, even in illness, a nature to do good, and to give to others readily, and to cherish good hopes and friends, and to know that I am loved. I give in to grief, for only a moment, in your sweet memory. We will never be together again, nor ever apart. The past lives in the present my Pearl. I never knew a more perfect place than you or ever hope to.

With great sadness, we send our love to Billie's family and friends, knowing all will miss her so very much.  We have been blessed to be her friend and we are sure she is now in the blessed Light of Pure Love.   Alan & Linda Ward

OBITUARY

Dr. Billie Johnson Laney

October 17, 1937 – July 27, 2016

Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home

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