Billy Lafoy

Billy Jack Lafoy, age 88, passed away Saturday, March 11th at Ashton Parke Care Center in Texas City.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Thursday, March 16th, at Emken-Linton Funeral Home in Texas City. Visitation will be held at 1pm prior to the funeral service.

Billy Jack was born December 13, 1928 in Groesbeck, Texas, to Gus C. LaFoy and Lillie Grace Franklin LaFoy. He was the seventh of twelve children. All of the brothers and sisters were a close and fun-loving group. There were many happy hours of joke telling and teasing one another.

BJ (as he liked to be called) was a man of many talents. He grew up on a farm raising livestock and tending to crops. At a young age he went out to west Texas to work in the oil fields. He eventually returned to his hometown of Groesbeck, when his sister Margaret called him about coming to Texas City to work at the Tin Smelter. BJ was actually too young to be hired by the company, therefore, he had to get his parents permission to go to work there! After the Tin Smelter closed down, BJ went into private contracting. He built many houses and did remodeling jobs in the Texas City area. Eventually, he was hired by the State of Texas and worked as a bridge tender on the Dickinson and Seabrook draw bridges. Oh, the stories he could tell about 'unhappy' travelers being held up by the bridge!!

But, beyond his many work-related talents, he was a gifted musician. He loved playing his guitar and singing western tunes. Many Sunday afternoons were spent on the family's back patio having guitar 'pickin' sessions. For his last months at Ashton Parke, he would often entertain the nurses and the residents with his renditions of Ernest Tubbs or George Strait.

After moving to Texas City for work, BJ met the love of his life, Leona Leining, while she was working at a local grocery store. Because times were hard, often their dates consisted of just sitting on the swing on the front porch of Leona's family home. They married on June 1, 1946 and had four children.

BJ was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 65 years, Leona LaFoy, grandsons Kevin Claunch and Ronny Rife, Jr., sister, Margaret McCollough and brothers, GW LaFoy, Dewey LaFoy, Charles LaFoy and Doug LaFoy.

He is survived by daughters, Bonnie LaFoy Claunch (Robert) and LaNette LaFoy Rife (Ronny) and sons August LaFoy and companion Cathy Pope and Jack LaFoy, all of Texas City, sisters Ivonne LaFoy Black of Houston, Grace Marie LaFoy Weaver of Round Rock and Bettie Jean LaFoy Browder of Groesbeck. Also grandchildren Rob Claunch, August H. LaFoy, Christine LaFoy, and Billy Rife, great grandchildren, Leaha Socias, Tyler Claunch, Ryan Claunch, Austin Claunch and Billy Jaden Rife and great-great grandchildren Myla Garza, Anthony Socias and Landon Socias and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Pallbearers will be Robert Claunch, Rob Claunch, Jr, August E. LaFoy, August H. LaFoy, Billy Rife and Gary Black.

The family would like to express their thanks for the love and care extended to BJ from the nurses at Ashton Parke, especially Kimberly, Lauren, Donna and Natalia.

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Cemetery