Billie Gayle Phelps' Obituary
Billie Gayle Ladd Phelps went peacefully to be with the Lord on December 29th, 2024. Billie was born on September 6, 1936 to Olie Leon and Heiness Mayfield Ladd in Calera, Oklahoma.
She graduated from Achille High School in Achille, Oklahoma in 1954. Billie met the love of her life, Marvin (M.J.) Phelps, in 1951 and they were married on May 28th, 1954, soon after her High School graduation.
Billie and M.J. moved from Oklahoma to Garland, Texas in 1958 where they raised their two sons, Ronnie and Tim. Billie’s joy was being a wife to M.J. and Mom to Ronnie and Tim. She was a hard worker and had many jobs outside of the home over the years to help support the family. She sewed trampolines, helped friends in the neighborhood by watching their children when needed, sold Mary Kay and worked as a dental assistant to Dr. Harold Pitts and Dr. Tommy Reed in Garland. She managed money well and paid off their family home early and surprised M.J with this special gift of being debt free.
Billie was active at the First Church of the Nazarene in Garland where she used her beautiful voice to lead music and to often sing solos. She supported Nazarene Missions International (NMI) by attending conferences and helping raise money collecting coins. Billie knew it was important to raise Ronnie and Tim to love Jesus and she took them to church every time the doors were open. As an adult, Tim joked that if they didn’t go to church on Sunday’s they didn’t get to play outside, so they went along willingly! Billie taught Vacation Bible School in the summer and loved to take her grandchildren Ryan, Justin, Cody, Parker and Breanna when they were available to attend.
Billie and M.J. loved to garden and they generously shared their harvest with family and friends. They also had two beautiful pecan trees in their back yard and Billie made the most delicious pecan pies and candied pecans, often requested by family and friends. On a sunny afternoon, you would find Billie and M.J. sitting
the porch in their lawn chairs.
Billie is preceded in death by her loving husband, M.J, parents Olie and Heiness, sisters Peggy and Brenda, brothers Olie Jr., Tommy and son, Ronnie.
Billie is survived by her son Tim (Leigh), grandchildren, Ryan, Justin (Joselyn), Cody, Parker (Chelsea), Breanna (Marshall) and great-grandchildren, Caiden, Christian, Dalis, Preston, Harrison, Hallie, McKinney, Jude and M.J.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to projecthopeworldwide.com
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