Willye Mae (Billie) Oliphint born

Willye Mae (Billie) Oliphint born June 15, 1922, in La Grange, passed away peacefully at Arabella of Kilgore Assisted Living facility on Sunday, May 19, 2019.

Memorial services will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Kilgore on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 1 p.m.

She is survived by husband of 71 years, Guy Oliphint of Kilgore; daughter, Bonnie of Tyler; son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Connie Oliphint of Houston, and son and daughterin-law, Mark and Kerry Oliphint of Kilgore; grandchildren, Guy Oliphint, Katy Pleasant, Brit Oliphint, Paul Oliphint, Ben Oliphint; and great-grandchildren Clara, Lily, Andrew, Sadie, Luke, and Noah. They were all the light of her life and they loved her dearly.

She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Doris Sula of Pearland, sister-in-law, Janice Sula of Horseshoe Bend, Ark.; nephews, Dale Oliphint, Ken Sebesta, Monte Sula, Barry Oliphint; and nieces, Ann Hammond, Karen Sherrill, Laurie Marshall, Joan Sula, Anne Tate, and dozens of cousins.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Leona Sula, brother Leon Sula, sister and brother-in-law Gladys and Edwin Sebesta, nephews Terry Sebesta, Donald Sula and niece Cynthia Cross.

Born into a musical family, she played piano in the family band and drums in La Grange High School Band. She could play piano by ear and always led the family in Christmas carols.

On January 16, 1948 she married Guy Oliphint in Houston and they built a good life together there. Billie had a successful career in business at Petro Tex Chemical Corp and Denka Chemical in Houston for over 40 years.

They resided in Houston until retirement and then moved to New London, and then to Kilgore. After moving to East Texas, Billie became very involved in local garden clubs and served a District Director of Texas Garden Clubs.

She was very involved in her churches, first as a member of the New London United Methodist Church and later as member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Kilgore. Her love of flowers was evident by the many floral arrangements she provided for her churches.

She was known for her delicious cooking, expert flower arranging and gardening, and oil painting, but her greatest gifts were to her family. She was always working to make her children and grandchildren’s lives better. She was generous and kind and a tireless worker, working late into the night making clothes for her children and costumes for grandchildren. She was the spark that livened every day of our lives. Her energy and love of family and friends remained until the end, and she and Dad were a true team in love and life!

The family would like to express our profound gratitude to the kind, compassionate and loving staffs of Arabella of Kilgore, Elite Private Care, and Heart to Heart Hospice for their devoted care to Mom.

The family requests that flowers or memorials made in Billie’s honor, be sent to St Luke’s United Methodist Church, 401 E. Main St., Kilgore, TX 75662.