Billie Joyce Williams Shaw-Bell

Billie Joyce Williams Shaw-Bell
January 17, 1928 - June 8, 2019

Billie Joyce Williams Shaw-Bell was born on a snowy day, January 17, 1928, in the home of her maternal grandmother in Abilene, Texas. Born at the dawn of the Great Depression, Billie
learned the value of hard work early in life, living on her own and supporting herself at the age
of 15 while helping her family financially..After graduating from Merkel High School, Billie moved to Midland, Texas, to work for the telephone company where she was quickly promoted to chief night operator. Longing to leave the dusty, West Texas landscape, Billie soon moved to Fort Worth and was employed as a lingerie salesperson. Here, she met Alvis L. Shaw of Aledo, a World War II Navy veteran, on a blind date, and they were soon married. The newlyweds moved into a small farmhouse with Alvis’ parents where Billie immediately felt at home. She said she set her purse on the bed and told Alvis, “You can bury me at Brown Cemetery.” The couple had four children, three of which survived to adulthood. Billie was tough, holding the family together on the 36-acre valley farm outside of Aledo. In addition to indoor and outdoor chores, she sewed all the family’s clothes, and served as room mother at various times to all her children. To supplement the family income, Billie worked for 35 years as district manager for World Book Encyclopedia, where she promoted literacy across eight counties within homes and schools. Routinely, Billie was recognized and invited to speak at annual conventions by the company president for being the national top seller. A spunky go-getter, it was common to find Billie mowing the two-acre yard between appointments in her business suit, complete with make-up, jewelry, high heels, and every hair in place, thanks to bi-weekly visits to Lucille’s Beauty Shop. She also proudly rocked her home by hand, mixing cement and hauling rocks from as far away as Garner. In her early 30s, Billie first stared death in the face and prevailed by the grace of God. Diagnosed with cancer, she was given six months to live, but she had three young children to take care of. She prayed that she would be able to raise her children, and Alvis convinced her she would want to see her grandchildren, too. Sixty years later, she lived to see not only nine grandchildren, but 18 great grandchildren.
A steadfast member of Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, Billie met life’s
challenges head-on, relying on prayer, her strong faith and unceasing study of the Bible. After
the death of Alvis, she married a longtime family friend, Junior Bell. They had ten years of bliss, playing golf and traveling. Billie was happy. Junior passed suddenly to the shock and dismay of the entire family. Happiness returned several years later when her first boyfriend from the age of five, Delbert Garner, waltzed back into her life. Reconnecting with Delbert completed an unfinished chapter in Billie’s life. Billie loved McDonald's coffee, Dr. Pepper, Donald Trump, ice cream, the US military, dogs and her cat. She is preceded in death by her mother, Ora Lee Veazy, her husbands, Alvis Shaw and Junior Bell, and her son, David Shaw. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Susie Burress of Aledo and Cheryl and Rick Green of Lufkin, nine grandchildren and their spouses, Drs. Jessica and Brett Noteware of Tyler, Celeste and Major Lucas Leinberger of Lufkin, Jared and Paula Green of Katy, Sarah Smith of Argentina, Rachel and Race Tolliver of Aledo, Nathan and Julie Burress of Ft. Worth, Hannah and Hayden Hall of White Settlement, Rebekah Burress and John Mark Burress, both of Denton, and 18 great grandchildren and one on the way. Seventy-two years after moving to Aledo, we will honor Billie’s request to be buried at Aledo Brown Cemetery. Her legacy lives on in the lush valley home she built and proudly rocked by hand, and in the hearts of her dog, cat, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed