Billie Jean Taylor

Billie Jean Fain Taylor, 93, of Paradise, Texas went to be home with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 22nd, after a brief illness. Funeral will be held on Monday, February 27, 2023 in Eastside Church of Christ at 2:00 PM. Billie, affectionately known as “Maw”, was born January 7, 1930 to William Stewart Fain & Jessie Lee Alford Fain in the Cottonwood Community of Archer County, Texas.

Billie’s Texas roots ran deep with her maternal grandparents and great-grandparents coming to Graham, Texas in 1877, from Chapel Hill, Tennessee.  Her paternal  great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents traveled to Texas, from Illinois on the Parker Wagon Train in 1833, before Texas was even a state.

Billie inherited their tough pioneer spirit, which served her well her entire life. 

Billie was proud to be a member of the first girls’ volleyball team at Olney High School, and dreamed of a glamorous career as a flight attendant. Before her airline career took off, she met Richard (“Dick”) Junior Taylor and married him on June 21, 1947.  Thirteen months later in 1948 their daughter Robbie Jean was born and was soon after diagnosed with polio. The next 15 years of Billie and Dick’s life included frequent trips to The Dallas Scottish Rite Hospital for treatments and surgeries for Robbie which speaks to both their character and strong spirit.  Their first son Jerry Richard “Jiggin’ Jerry” Taylor came along in 1953. Their second son, Robert William Taylor completed the family of five in 1959. When Robert was just a few months old the family moved to Graham, where Billie went to work at Safeway and then at United Supermarket where everyone looked forward to a kind word or a friendly wave from her. After over 30 years in the grocery business, Billie retired from United Supermarkets. Graham is where Dick and Billie spent their remaining years together. 

She loved team bowling with friends, gardening, raising irises, crocheting, sewing clothes for all the granddaughters, creating beautiful quilts for her kids and grandkids, coastal fishing with family or just quietly fishing Lake Graham with Dick. She loved to travel including many Caribbean cruises, Mexico cruises, Cabo San Lucas, the Bahamas, and Maui, Hawaii.  She was known for the VERY best catfish around.  She would often treat the family to fried apricot pies, or spoil the grandkids with late-night grilled cheese and hot chocolate.  

A life-long member of the Church of Christ, Billie was part of both the Loving Highway and Eastside congregations in Graham, the Lake Dallas congregation, the Cottondale congregation, and at the time of her passing, Springtown Church of Christ in Springtown. 

Billie went to live with Robert and Lisa in Lake Dallas, Texas in 2015 after Dick passed away, and moved with them to Paradise, Texas in 2018 where she spent her remaining years.

Billie is survived by her daughter, Robbie Read and husband Dwight of Graham, son Robert Taylor and wife Lisa of Paradise, grandson Kelley Read and wife Tracy of Graham,  grandson Richard Herndon of Graham, grandson Stewart Herndon and wife Kelli of Norman, Oklahoma, granddaughter Tara Hanley and boyfriend Daren Haymes of Lubbock, Heather Nugen of Graham, Eric Taylor and wife Misty of Crescent, Oklahoma, Jerry Dale Taylor and wife Tiffany of Newcastle, 21 great-grandchildren: Kole, Klayton, Brooke, Sydney, Hunter, Brady, Sam, Lila, Kelsee, McKinley, Tristin, Hannah, Tanner, Jaden, Brock, Kaavn, Logan, Gage, Daizy , Ashleigh, Jerry Richard, a brand new great-great-granddaughter, Monroe Jean, and many close family friends that she considered her own.  

Billie is preceeded in death by her parents, sister Betty Casteel, brother Don Fain, husband Dick, son Jerry, daughter-in-law Lisa, grandson Dale, and granddaughter Mandy.

Visitation will be Sunday 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Morrison Funeral Home.