Bernice Billingsley

The family of Bernice Billingsley will host a gathering of family and friends from 9:30 until 10:15 on January 3, 2022, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. A service to celebrate her life of 92 years is scheduled at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers, followed by a graveside service at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery.

She died on Sunday, December 25, 2022. Please visit www.memorialdesigners.net for a service broadcasting schedule, floral purchasing, and an area to share stories of Bernice with her family.

Bernice Billingsley was born December 7, 1930, to Raymond and Valree Pate Wylie in Lubbock, TX.

She married Rayburn Billingsley on June 1, 1948, in Lubbock. She attended Cooper schools, served in leadership roles in several school organizations, and played basketball. (It is West Texas after all.)

She attended business college and had several bookkeeping jobs before joining the staff at the Texas Tech Bookstore where she rose to bookstore manager before her retirement after 35+ years of service.

Bernice is survived by her sister, Lynda Gant; nephew Trent Gant (Christy), his daughter Camberly Gant Alvarado (Danny) and son, Brody Gant; niece, Tandi Gant Mitchell (Matt) her sons Daniel (Anne), Nathan, Luke; niece Karan Todd (Randy) her sons Bobby Todd (Camille), children Carson and Kailey, and Steven Todd (Andrea) children Weston and Wyatt; nephew Ric Vandiver his daughter Amy Hickman (Brandon), child Raeley; and daughter-in-law Kerry Billingsley.

She is preceded in death by spouse Rayburn, son Michael, infant daughter, Patsy Ruth; parents Raymond and Valree Wyle; and sister Mary Lou Vandiver. Bernice was a member of Vandellia Church of Christ.

Bernice grew up in a farming family and continued this tradition with her husband Rayburn. She was a go-getter and dedicated to her family. She, Rayburn, and Mike were involved in breeding, raising, and competing with racehorses. When Mike and Kerry started competing in barrel racing, Bernice was at nearly all the events, keeping times for all barrel racers, and was one of the two go-to people in the stands to get accurate times. Later in life, she partnered with her friend, Toby Caraway in showing championship goats and cows.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Texas Tech Rodeo Team or the Alzheimer’s Association.

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