Billy Dean Horton, 83, was born February 2nd, 1939, in Greenville, Texas, to Vernie Horton and Sybil Stevens Horton.  He went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 20, 2022, in Wills Point.  He was married to Nola Pearson on October 12, 1958, until her death on January 5th, 2005.  He was later married to Patricia Bell on October 14, 2006, until her death on January 15, 2020.  Bill never had any children but loved his nephew and all of his nieces as though they were his own.  He worked in the construction field, mainly as a roofer most of his life.  5 days after turning 17 Bill enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.  But was greatly disappointed having to be discharged after only completing basic training due to a medical condition.  His flight to San Diego, California, and seeing Catalina Island sparked his love to travel and see other beautiful places in America, the country he loved and so proudly wanted to serve.  Bill was a very humble man and lived a simple life.  It didn’t take much to make him happy especially if he was with family.  He loved the older country music artists with Willie Nelson being one of his favorites, watching old westerns with anyone who shared the same passion, strumming on his guitar, painting pictures of places he had seen, anything western and of course, horses.  But as he would say: The closest he ever got to having a horse was a donkey named Sam.  He must have been a dog whisperer as every dog that he was around was drawn to him like a magnet.  Bill was a Godfearing man, had deep faith and was a great inspiration to so many.  He could make you laugh no matter the situation and never seemed down or depressed.  His nature was to cheer you up and help anyone in need whether family or stranger and offer words of encouragement.   He was known to often say “The man upstairs will work everything out the way it’s supposed to be!”

Bill was preceded in death by his parents: his wife of 47 years, Nola Horton; his wife of 13 years, Patricia Horton; brothers Vernie Eugene Horton, 1984, and Gerald Don Horton, 2022.

Left to cherish his memory are his sister Katherine Roberts and brother-in-law Jerry, sister-in-law Violet Horton, one nephew, five nieces, numerous great nieces and nephews, several cousins, and special friends.