Billy Joe Gannaway's Obituary
A Celebration of Life
Billy Joe Gannaway
May 12, 1930 – September 27, 2020
Bill was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Elbert Aden Gannaway and Mary Frances Bell, their third child of six. He grew up as a great athlete, especially in tennis. He was the best tennis player in Pine Bluff and one of the top players in Arkansas. His athleticism allowed him later to excel at basketball, softball, pool, and bowling. He could have easily gone to college on a tennis scholarship, but school was not his thing.
Instead, Bill moved to Dallas in 1949 at the age of 19 and went to work at Mercantile National Bank where he worked for 37 years. To put it nicely, Bill was very European in his attitude toward work. He worked to live rather than lived to work. He loved to travel and ultimately made it to all 50 states and every continent. In addition to Canada and Mexico, he traveled across Europe, South America, Northern Africa, and Asia Minor. He also loved sports, especially the Dallas Cowboys and the Arkansas Razorbacks, and many other competitive activities, such as playing cards, dominos, casino gambling, horse racing, and even square dancing.
The largest event during his time at Mercantile Bank was his meeting the love of his life, Joan Bridges. They married on November 10, 1950 and were married until Joan’s death on August 13, 2018. They had three children, and Bill’s life revolved around them, supporting them in their activities, their education, and in the family paper route business. After both he and Joan retired early, they moved to their house on Lake Winnsboro where they spent 30+ happy years in retirement, living better than they had before. They were ever together, and following Joan’s death, Bill was never complete again.
Survivors include two sons: Randall and wife Lauren and Danny and wife Joy; one daughter, Sandra Akright and husband Gary; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
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