Bill Spivey
April 29, 1927 — February 17, 2014
Bill Spivey
Bill Spivey, 86, passed away Monday, February 17, 2014 in Graham. Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in Eastside Church of Christ. Burial will follow in Pioneer Cemetery under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home.
Bill was born April 29, 1927 in Graham to the late Thomas Ward and Arvie Marie (Wigington) Spivey. Bill's dad Ward, had him Roman riding and competing on bucking steers before he was out of grade school. He moved to Brownwood where he was voted most athletic boy. He always said that he was too busy day dreaming to be a good student. After years of bull riding, performing with his trick mule "Shirley" and clowning, he married and settled down with Billie Pickard. After Tammy was born, he quit traveling the rodeo circuit and went to work in the oilfield with only dreams and determination, a banker that believed in him, city officials who helped him develop two streets, Marilyn Street and Monroe Street, and his ability to horse trade for building materials, he set off on many ventures. In 1956 he built and operated the Dairy Mart, Dairy King, Dairyland (Sonny's BBQ), and several other drive ins in the area. Bill and Billie enjoyed raising horses on their property above Fireman's Park for several years. Even though many of his friends and some city officials told him it was a crazy idea, he decided to develop the property anyway. He got the same reaction when he decided to build the Skate Olympian and baseball parks on the creek. Thankfully he was a dreamer who followed his dreams. He loved this town and his family at Eastside Church of Christ.
Survivors include: wife, Billie Spivey of Graham; daughter, Tammy Frezza and husband, Keith of Aurora; sister, Betty Donnell of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Sommer Frezza, Janae Frezza Poulton, and Cole Frezza all of Hurst; nephew, Brian Stephens and wife, Joanie of Graham; niece, Elizabeth Stephens Gray and husband, Mark of Denton.
He was preceded in death by sister, Mary Katherine Stephens.
Family visitation will be held Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Bill was born April 29, 1927 in Graham to the late Thomas Ward and Arvie Marie (Wigington) Spivey. Bill's dad Ward, had him Roman riding and competing on bucking steers before he was out of grade school. He moved to Brownwood where he was voted most athletic boy. He always said that he was too busy day dreaming to be a good student. After years of bull riding, performing with his trick mule "Shirley" and clowning, he married and settled down with Billie Pickard. After Tammy was born, he quit traveling the rodeo circuit and went to work in the oilfield with only dreams and determination, a banker that believed in him, city officials who helped him develop two streets, Marilyn Street and Monroe Street, and his ability to horse trade for building materials, he set off on many ventures. In 1956 he built and operated the Dairy Mart, Dairy King, Dairyland (Sonny's BBQ), and several other drive ins in the area. Bill and Billie enjoyed raising horses on their property above Fireman's Park for several years. Even though many of his friends and some city officials told him it was a crazy idea, he decided to develop the property anyway. He got the same reaction when he decided to build the Skate Olympian and baseball parks on the creek. Thankfully he was a dreamer who followed his dreams. He loved this town and his family at Eastside Church of Christ.
Survivors include: wife, Billie Spivey of Graham; daughter, Tammy Frezza and husband, Keith of Aurora; sister, Betty Donnell of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Sommer Frezza, Janae Frezza Poulton, and Cole Frezza all of Hurst; nephew, Brian Stephens and wife, Joanie of Graham; niece, Elizabeth Stephens Gray and husband, Mark of Denton.
He was preceded in death by sister, Mary Katherine Stephens.
Family visitation will be held Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
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