The Herald Democrat; Sherman TX; 2008-6-17

                        BILLY L. LAKEY

   Bonham  --  Funeral services for Billy Leeman Lakey, 68, of Bonham will
be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 2008 n Wise Funeral Home Capel.  Rev.
Troy Miles, Rev. Johnny Martin and Terry Mayfield will officiate.  Burial
with military honors will follow in McWright Cemetery, near Celeste.
Billy passed away Friday, June 13, 2008 at theDallas VA Hospital.
    Billy was born October 20, 1939 in Bonham, Texas, the son of Virgil
Harmon Lakey and Bessie Lee Dillard Lakey.  He was a 1958 graduate of Dodd
City High School and attended Grayson County Jr. College from 1975-1978.
He was a U.S. Army veteran and served during the Vietnam War (1963-1965).
He married, Billie Imogean "Jeannie", Feb. 18, 1966.  Billy spent 38
years in retail management.
    He began working for White's Auto on the Bonham square at age 18 and
was there for 14 years.  He helped open the first Bonham Walmart Store
in the 1970's and then spent 24 years at both Greenville Walmart Stores.
He lived in Brasher (Hopkins County), Texas for 24 years before retiring
and moving back to Bonham in March of 2000.  Billy was a man of many
talents and a perfect gentleman. He enjoyed art, playing the guitar,
singing and fishing and his dog, Nate.  He loved pets and his family
and friends.  Billy was a member of the First Pentecostal Church of
God in Bonham.  He was preceded in death  by his parents and brothers,
Euless, Willie Arthur, Clarence, Buster and Buford, and his sisters,
Vena Craig and Thelma.
    Surviving are his wife of 43 years, Billie I "Jeannie" Lakey of
Bonham; sons, Billy Lakey, Jr., and Pancho, both of Bonham; daughters,
Tina Gannon of Irving and Lisa Mayfield of Royce City; brothers, Roy Lakey
of Ravenna and Jimmy Lakey of Corsicana, Texas; sisters, Virgie Stroud
of Bonham and Ellie Caughron of Big Sandy; six grandchildren, Jamie,
Jacinta, Nicole, Brenna, Shandolyn and Bobby; five great grandchildren,
Kasey, Deshawn Brown, Matthew, Alex, Andrea, and Madison Atchley, Betty
Lakey, Sally Brumley, Wanda Erwin, Mary Latham and Vicki Steen.
    Pallbearers will be Ray Lakey, Bobby Lakey, Lance Fry, James Brown,
Shawn Atchley, Aaron Atchley, Austin Lynch and Jimmy Dale Lakey.
    Billy is with God whom he loved so dearly.  He touched all of our
hearts in so many special ways and will be missed and loved forever.
    The family will receive friends at Wise Funeral Home from 1 p.m. until
service time Saturday.  Online guest register www.wisefuneralhome.com