Billy Earl Williams, 77, of Center, passed away Sunday, January 15, 2023, in Nacogdoches.

Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at Mt. Herman Cemetery in Shelby County with Joel Jackson officiating. Visitation will begin at Noon at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center.

Born August 18, 1945, in Center, Texas, Billy is the son of John Thomas Williams Jr. and Elizabeth Vaudine Luman Williams. Billy served 4 years in the United States Air Force. While stationed at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma, he met and married Sue Haskins. Shortly after, he received his orders to go to Italy to serve his country. During his time out of the country, he became a father to a daughter. Billy and Sue had already planned to name her Deana. Due to time away, many miles apart, the marriage ended in divorce before his tour of duty was over in Italy. Forty years later, and after lots of phone calls tracking Deana down, and a DNA kit he finally got to meet the daughter who did not even know he existed. Deana was his pride and joy. He always said, of all the things he did wrong, his daughter was the one thing that he got right. Plus, the grandchildren were a bonus in this package deal that came into his life. Emily became his favorite granddaughter and Caleb and Sean David were the grandsons he had always dreamed of having. His life was complete.

Billy was a kind and simple man. He valued his family and friends. He would give you the shirt off his back and never expect anything in return. All the homeless cats in the neighborhood gather at his back door for their daily feedings. Billy always had an answer for everything. He was very knowledgeable in so many areas of conversations. As Billy would say, he knew lots of "useless facts". He played the guitar and knew the words to nearly every country music song. In recent years, pretty much being confined to his home due to health issues, you would find him in front of his TV watching his favorite old westerns with the volume turned up about as loud as it would go. Wagon Train was his favorite and he knew plenty of "useless facts" about every episode. He loved NASCAR racing and attended many races in his lifetime. Billy was one of a kind and will be missed by many.

Survived by daughter, Deana Jackson and husband Joel of Moore, OK; grandchildren, Caleb Jackson of Moore, OK, Emily Clement and husband Garrett of Blanchard, OK, and Sean David Jackson and wife Dorria of Oklahoma City, OK; great grandchild, Garen Clement; brother, Glenn Williams (Martha Raye) Center, TX; sisters, Barbara Scates (Jerry) Center, TX, and Gay Nell Adams (Steve) San Angelo, TX; good friend, Carter Soape of Center, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Proceeded in death by wife, Jacki Williams; parents, John Thomas Williams Jr. and Elizabeth Vaudine Williams; sister, Wanda Coats; sister-in-law, Nancy Williams; and brother-in-law, Jeff Coats.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfh.com