Billy (Bill) Vaughan Threatt

In the early afternoon, on Monday, June 13, 2022, Bill Threatt, passed from this life into the next at the age of 96. His demise was unexpected and sudden. He was surrounded by most of his immediate family, as well as some close friends, at John Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth, Texas. There were prayers, talk of his amazing life, and at one point the entire room sang Amazing Grace to him. It was beautiful and sweet.

Bill Threatt was born in Sayre, Oklahoma, on June 9, 1926. He was second of the five children born to Myrtle Paralee Rutledge Threatt and Jesse Ralph Threatt.

Bill’s parents were hardworking people. His mother was a farm wife and his father farmed and ranched Hereford cattle. Bill and his dad loved horses and they always had a good saddle horse around. Bill also loved guns. He was an avid hunter and often provided a small game supper for the family as he was growing up. He was a crack shot all his life.

Bill spent his early childhood in Oklahoma and then the family moved to Authon, Texas, where he attended school until he was drafted by the Army at age 18, before his graduation. He was stationed as an M.P. in the Philippines. After he returned from the service, he immediately married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Faulkenberry. He and Wanda had a son and then lost him, tragically, at the age of 11. After a period of three years, they then had three daughters whom they raised to adulthood in Aurora, Texas, where he was still residing at the time of his death. The family is very close. 

After the service, he took advantage of the GI bill to get some education. His studies included cabinetry and agriculture. For a time, he followed construction. He received a serious injury at one point when a beam fell on him. He spent some time in a body cast and then went on with his life as if it never happened. He was a tough man. He later worked at a forging company and in a machine shop before starting his own business, Tube Products, Inc. His company made hydraulic parts for Bell Helicopter and the United States Government. He kept his family well-provided for. 

When he retired (in name only, he was never sedentary or still), he kept himself busy with buying and selling antiques and gardening as well as woodworking and various other endeavors. He gardened his entire life. People were amazed at how he could grow all he did in the North Central Texas sand. He was a generous man with a big heart and helped many family members and friends in his lifetime. Bill was gifted with a sharp wit, good looks, and a playfully mischievous spirit. He belonged to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, in Boyd, Texas.

Bill was preceded in death by his son, Earnie Threatt; father, Jesse Threatt; mother, Myrtle Threatt; brother, Lomax Threatt; and sister Betty Sharp.

Bill is survived by his wife, Wanda Threatt; daughter, Kelly James; daughter, Tracy Vaughan and her husband, Norman; and daughter, Jana Moon Luebbert and her husband, Eric. He is survived by grandsons, Jason Satterfield and his wife, Marcy, Bill Vaughan and his wife, Sarah, Wes Vaughan and his wife, Destiny, Marc Vaughan and his wife, Aline, Zeke Vaughan; and granddaughter, Jo Vaughan. He is survived by ten great-grandchildren, Carolynn Satterfield, Caleb Satterfield, Cloe Satterfield, Zayla Satterfield, Draven Satterfield, Xerena Satterfield, Benjamin Satterfield, Sage Vaughan, Jericho (Coco) Vaughan, and one on the way. He is also survived by his sisters, Dorothy Sharp and Nancy Martin, several nieces, nephews, and many others.

The family would like to offer special thanks to Wise Health Center, East Campus, in Decatur, Texas, John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, and Galbreaith-Pickard Funeral Chapel in Weatherford, Texas for the care of their dear husband, dad, grandad, and great-grandad as he took his final earthly journey.

Visitation: 9:00 a.m., Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Galbreaith Pickard, with a graveside service to follow at 11:00 a.m., in Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Condolences, remembrances, and flowers can be sent to Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel. (www.galbreaithpickard.com)