Billie Jean Glenn

 Billie Jean Glenn, age 88, passed away peacefully at her home near Amarillo, Texas on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

A rosary will be held on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 6:00 PM at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia, Amarillo, TX with a visitation immediately following the rosary until 7:45 PM. The funeral mass will be on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Cathedral with the Reverend Tony Neusch and Deacon Michael Glenn, son, officiating. The interment will be at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Gift bearers in Mass of Resurrection will be her granddaughters. 

She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandma, great grandma, and a family rock for us all. As a kind and gracious host to many family gatherings, she exemplified to all the importance of family.

The second of ten children, Billie Jean was born on December 29,1935 in Parmer County, Texas on the family farm to Alexander John and Lucy Frances (Schmitz) Jesko who instilled in her the values of faith, family, and service to others which would serve as her compass through life. She attended Farwell Schools and graduated from Farwell High School in 1953. After graduation, she attended Sacred Heart College in Wichita, Kansas before settling in Hereford, Texas. It was while living in Hereford, Billie Jean met her husband Donald (Don) Ray Glenn through a matchmaking introduction by Earl Glenn (her friend, and his brother). Don and Billie were married on April 27,1957 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hereford, Texas and spent 59 loving years together in marriage.

After a few years in Hereford, they moved their growing family and eventually made their home near Amarillo, Texas where they raised their four sons Darrell (1958), Mike (1960), Tim (1962), and Gary (1966). Billie was well suited to be a mother of four boys. She was gentle and quiet spoken yet was able to deliver a message in a direct and effective way.

By the age of thirty-five Billie Jean’s parents both had passed on. Being the eldest daughter within a large family, she grew as a respected matriarch while maintaining lifelong friendships with her sisters and brothers.

After being “Mom” to four boys, Billie Jean was blessed to start her life as “Grandma” with five granddaughters in succession that would eventually round out to six granddaughters and seven grandsons. She treasured time with them all and she and Don were active in traveling near and far to be present at all their life moments. She particularly enjoyed the summer weeks where they were able to have the grandchildren for “a week at grandma’s house” and giving the parents a welcomed respite. Just another example of her simple but significant way of encouraging the family bonds in all their seasons and generations.

Throughout their marriage, Billie and Don were devout practitioners in their Catholic faith as founding members at St. Mary’s Church in Amarillo, then later at Blessed Sacrament Church in Amarillo, and then returning to St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish. Billie Jean enjoyed serving the parish in roles as a Eucharistic Minister, Nursing Home Communion Minister, and as an active member of the Altar Society and the St. Monica Women’s Circle. In addition to service within her church family, she served as a longtime volunteer at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Amarillo. Billie was also a talented seamstress, crafting countless articles of clothing and home decor for her family who treasured receiving them then, and still cherish them today as beautiful keepsakes. A first communion dress she made for her granddaughter, was worn again 30 years later by Billie’s great-granddaughter at her first communion. In all these activities, Billie was a living example of her faith in her generosity, strength, wisdom, and daily walk with Jesus. 

Billie Jean was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Donald, Larry, and Kenneth Jesko; three sisters, Mary Carolyn Jesko, Judith Ann Dennis, and Frances “Elaine” Larson; and her beloved husband Don.

Those left to cherish her memory include her four sons, Darrell Glenn and wife, Kimberly of Amarillo; Michael Glenn and wife Dr. Lisa of Austin; Tim Glenn and wife Donna of Denton; and Gary Don Glenn and wife Yingai of Irving; thirteen grandchildren -Therese and husband, Richard Biggs; Shivonne and husband, Chris Benn; Sarah and husband, Trenton Wright; Maura and husband, Miles Michinock; Monica and husband, Patrick Sullivan; Seth Glenn and wife, Alexandra; Daniel Glenn and wife, Kristen; Rachel Glenn and husband, J.P. Gunn; Caleb Glenn; Jacob Glenn and wife, Mallory; Gilbert Glenn; Noah Glenn; and Geoffrey Glenn; and nineteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Lee Dennis Jesko and wife, Brenda of Muleshoe; Wayne Jesko and wife, Liz of Muleshoe; and a sister, Debbie Gallman of Bovina; and many nephews and nieces.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:25-28

Her family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses at Kinder Hearts Hospice and the staff and caregivers at Caring Senior Service for their compassionate care and comfort that they provided to Billie Jean during her final months.

The family request donations in memorial of Billie Jean Glenn be made to Disciples of the Lord, Jesus Christ, Prayer Town Sisters, PO Box 64, Prayer Town, TX 79010-0064 Prayer Town Sisters or to St Mary’s Cathedral Parish, 1200 S. Washington St., Amarillo, TX 79102 St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral