Obituary

Billie Jean Donowho Standefer, 86, a Plainview resident more than 60 years, died Friday, October 4, 2013 in McKinney, Texas.

She was "blessed from the beginning," as she liked to say, and blessed those around her with a joy for life, an accepting, innocent spirit, a fierce loyalty to friends and family, and a beautiful singing voice.

She was born in Meadow, Texas, on March 4, 1927. She was the last of seven children born to the local blacksmith, Benjamin Franklin Donowho, and his wife, Beulah Mae Miller Donowho.

Billie was graduated from Meadow High School and Draughon's Business College in Lubbock.

She married E.R (Dick) Standefer on January 25, 1948. They were members of "the greatest generation."

She grew up a child of the Great Depression in a home that valued education, self reliance, and treating all people equally. She learned homemaking and frugality. She knew how to make use of everything of even the smallest value.

Dick Standefer was awarded the Bronze Star in World War II during service in France and Germany. She first laid eyes on him the day he returned to Plainview from the war. Soon thereafter he asked her out, and they dated during his senior year at Texas Tech, where he played quarterback for the Red Raiders in 1946. They adored one another. He preceded her in death in 1984. He was the love of her life; she missed him terribly for the remainder of her life, and her family rejoices that they are together again.

She was an excellent mother and grandmother, known to them all as Grandma Bill, or G-Bill. She lived her life in a way that taught her children self reliance, discipline and to respect themselves and others. She was the celebrity host of the Second Annual G-Bill Invitational Golf Tournament in McKinney over the Labor Day weekend, attended by all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mrs. Standefer worked for the Plainview-Hale County Health Department in the mid-90's, and for Dr. Y. Huang Do in the 1980s.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Plainview. She was an active member of the American Cancer Society organization in Plainview in the 1980s and 1990s. She served as an election judge when John F. Kennedy was elected president, working until late in the night in that close election. But she spent most of her life serving her family, taking care of elderly relatives, and loving her friends.

She leaves three children: Richard (Malinda) Standefer of Lubbock, Valarie (David) Zeeck of University Place, WA, and Mike (Cathy) Standefer of McKinney, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 11, 2013 at The First Baptist Church Chapel in Plainview, with Dr. Tim Marrow officiating. Interment will follow at Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Plainview. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Lemons Funeral Home, 206 W. 8th Street. The family suggests contributions in Billie's name to the American Cancer Society, 3411-73rd St., Lubbock, Texas 79423.