Billie E. Spencer

Billie Ermine Abernathy Spencer passed away peacefully on October 8, 2009, at Hunt County Regional Hospital, in Greenville. Services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 12, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Commerce, with the Reverend Aleze Fulbright and Reverend Dennis Wilkinson officiating. Internment will follow at Brigham Cemetery, between Commerce and Campbell.

Billie was born on July 22, 1924, to D.C. and Mary Kizer Abernathy in Commerce. Billie graduated from Training School in 1943, which was part of then East Texas State Teachers College (now Texas A&M University, Commerce). She later graduated from East Texas State College with a B.S. in 1945 and an M.S. in 1955.

On January 28, 1943, Billie married Otha Spencer, in Columbia, South Carolina, while Otha was serving in the Army Air Corps. After the war, Billie and Otha had a son, John, and a daughter, Mary.

Billie was not only a devoted wife and mother, but she was also a freelance writer, publishing over fifty articles in Boy's Life magazine. In 1994, the Boy Scouts of America honored her with a plaque in recognition of her work. Billie and Otha also co-edited the Commerce Handbook, an encyclopedia of people and events of Commerce and the University.

Billie was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She was also a founding member of the Chi Omega Fraternity at East Texas State University.

Billie is survived by Otha Spencer, her husband of over sixty-six years, son John Spencer and his wife Joanne of San Jose, CA, daughter Mary Spencer of Dallas, TX, grandson Will Spencer and his wife Janyce of Concord, CA, and granddaughter Gwen of San Jose, CA. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, D.C. Abernathy, Jr.

Pallbearers will be Will Spencer, Bill Abernathy, Arthur Pullen, Edgar Garrett, Charles McGough, Charles Smith, Buddy Gore, Lamont Cunningham, Michael Prewitt, Kent Garrett, and Robert Rabb.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the United Methodist Women and the Chi Omega Fraternity.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday October 11, 2009 at Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home, Commerce.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations in memory of Billie to the First United Methodist Church, Commerce, or the University Christian Center, Texas A&M University, Commerce.

Billie Ermine Abernathy Spencer passed away peacefully on October 8, 2009, at Hunt County Regional Hospital, in Greenville. Services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 12, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Commerce, with the Reverend Aleze Fulbright and Reverend Dennis Wilkinson officiating. Internment will follow at Brigham Cemetery, between Commerce and Campbell.

Billie was born on July 22, 1924, to D.C. and Mary Kizer Abernathy in Commerce. Billie graduated from Training School in 1943, which was part of then East Texas State Teachers College (now Texas A&M University, Commerce). She later graduated from East Texas State College with a B.S. in 1945 and an M.S. in 1955.

On January 28, 1943, Billie married Otha Spencer, in Columbia, South Carolina, while Otha was serving in the Army Air Corps. After the war, Billie and Otha had a son, John, and a daughter, Mary.

Billie was not only a devoted wife and mother, but she was also a freelance writer, publishing over fifty articles in Boy's Life magazine. In 1994, the Boy Scouts of America honored her with a plaque in recognition of her work. Billie and Otha also co-edited the Commerce Handbook, an encyclopedia of people and events of Commerce and the University.

Billie was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She was also a founding member of the Chi Omega Fraternity at East Texas State University.

Billie is survived by Otha Spencer, her husband of over sixty-six years, son John Spencer and his wife Joanne of San Jose, CA, daughter Mary Spencer of Dallas, TX, grandson Will Spencer and his wife Janyce of Concord, CA, and granddaughter Gwen of San Jose, CA. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, D.C. Abernathy, Jr.

Pallbearers will be Will Spencer, Bill Abernathy, Arthur Pullen, Edgar Garrett, Charles McGough, Charles Smith, Buddy Gore, Lamont Cunningham, Michael Prewitt, Kent Garrett, and Robert Rabb.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the United Methodist Women and the Chi Omega Fraternity.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday October 11, 2009 at Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home, Commerce.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations in memory of Billie to the First United Methodist Church, Commerce, or the University Christian Center, Texas A&M University, Commerce.