Billie Louise Harrison

Billie Page Harrison went to her heavenly home Saturday, June 25,

after a brief illness. She was born in Como, Texas, on June 29,

1924, to Abner Johnson and Edna Taylor Page. Preceded in death by

her husband W. T. (Dub) Harrison, her parents, and brother James

Robert Page, Billie lived most of her adult life in Mineola. She had

wisdom far beyond her formal education in Como and Mineola, Texas.

Billie's lifelong occupations included wife, mother and grandmother, homemaker, cook, hostess, and loyal friend. Her most important affiliation was with the First Baptist Church of Mineola, for she credited that church with most of her spiritual development. Above

all else, Billie stood for the truth found in Jesus Christ.

In December 1943, she married Dub Harrison, also from Como, and went to live in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where Dub was stationed in the U. S. Coast Guard. She later remarked that she thought nothing of establishing her first home halfway across the United States as a

teenager (the war years produced lots of heroes, not all soldiers and

sailors). In North Carolina she gave birth to her only child, Tom

Harrison. She also wanted a daughter but had to wait 25 years until

Tom married Nancy Brown of Corsicana.

She and Dub loved to host groups in their home, especially when she could try out new recipes (they always turned out great). Dub and

Billie loved to travel and experience first-hand places they had heard

about all their lives.

Billie loved people but wasn't a joiner. Her only organizational

affiliations were her church and PEO (for a few years). Her main

contributions were in the area of moral development, with such maxims

as "A man's word is his bond," "Anything worth doing is worth doing

right," "That's not right, and besides that, it's wrong!" And "birds

of a feather flock together." She was always willing to extend a

listening ear, and that endeared her to many people---young and old.

Two of her main joys were her family and contributing to worthy

causes. She helped to make this world a better place.

Survivors include son Tom Harrison and wife Nancy of Waco; grandson Will Harrison, wife Nancy, and great grandsons Will, David, and Charlie of Winnsboro; and granddaughter Emily Smith, husband Nate, and great grandchildren Clay, Thomas, Henry and Amelia of Memphis,

Tennessee.

The funeral service will be held at 1 PM on Wednesday, June

29 (Billie's 87th birthday), at First Baptist Church Mineola. Her

family will welcome visitors on Tuesday, June 28, 6-8 PM at Beaty

Funeral Home, Highway 37, Mineola.

The family expresses deep appreciation to friend and caregiver Cindy Rhoades, Chaplain Sarah Neeley, the medical staff of Dr. Kyle Gulley, and the Intensive Care Unit of Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. In lieu of flowers, Mrs.

Harrison would appreciate gifts to the First Baptist Church of Mineola

or to your own church.