Billye P Brackeen

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday May 4, 2010 at Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel.  Burial will be at Llano CemeteryArrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia.Born May 1, 1924 in Quinton, Oklahoma to George and Nina Mills.  She grew up in Quinton and graduated from Quinton High School.  After high school, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend Draughon’s Business College.  Upon completion of college, Billye relocated to Amarillo to work for the Bureau of Reclamation.  She later started her career with the Social Security Administration where she proudly served as the regional manager for the Panhandle area.It was in Amarillo that she met her love in life, D. L. Brackeen.  Billye and D.L. were married on December 31, 1944.  They were true partners in life and business for 53 years.  They started and operated City Machine and Welding of Amarillo.  Upon D.L.’s retirement, the business was sold to Jack B Kelly.Billye was an accomplished pianist and provided hours of enjoyment for her family with her music.  She could play be ear and she could read music.  When Billye played, the house rocked.  She won many awards for her performances, but the best performances were for the family.  She and two of her sisters, Jackie and Pauline, sang as the Mills Sisters Trio and sang gospel music on Sunday morning radio and gave performances around the Texas Panhandle.  She also had a passion for painting landscapes in oil.Billye was the “go-to” person in the family.  She always had a listening ear and reacted with love, support and compassion.  She also was generous with people she didn’t even know, but heard or saw they needed help.  She loved her family, and we loved her and we will miss her intelligence and wisdom. She has many family members greeting her in heaven: husband D.L., who died on November 28, 1998; six sisters, Lillie Taylor, Velma Prince, Edith Harris, Mildred Livingston, and Pauline Beer; and one brother George Mills, Jr.Left to remember and celebrate her life is sister Jackie Horne of Amarillo and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.In lieu of flowers, remember Billye thru donations to City Church of Amarillo or Meals on Wheels of Amarillo.The family also wishes to thank the staff of BSA Hospice for their care and kindness.

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