Billy James Grady

VIEWING at 10:00am and SERVICES at 11:00am Monday, August 29, 2022 at Lakeshore Baptist Church, 200 S. Lakeshore Drive, Hudson Oaks, Texas.
Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas

BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Grady was born January 15, 1931 in Rotan, Texas to James Roy and BaDottie “Dottie” Grady. He attended Crozier Technical High School and was in the Army ROTC. He served in the Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1953.

He was a Master Mason for over 50 years in the Oak Cliff Lodge.

In 1982, he joined the Texas Shriner Black Horse Patrol, a 20-horse full-gallop drill team winning 1st place in his first competition. He rode his beloved horse Chac in many state competitions.

He had a long career with the phone company, started working at Southwestern Bell in Dallas at age 16, and continued with AT&T after moving to New Jersey in 1984. He retired after 35 years in 1995. Then worked at Statistical Research retiring again 1998.

He started a home repair service company, Honey-Do List Inc., with a few flyers left on cars at the local Shop Rite. He grew the business by word-of-mouth by providing high quality work and excellent customer service. He presented customers a red rose with their bill.

While working in New Jersey Bill met Marion, a New Jersey native and love of his life, in 1983. They married in June 1984. In 2001, they moved to Texas to be closer to his Bar G Ranch in Waxahachie and family in Weatherford. They enjoyed traveling in their fifth wheel visiting 37 states and Canada, and staying active by square and round dancing.

His family and friends will forever remember his funny nature, silliness, unexpected pranks and collection of hats. They will be inspired by his tireless work ethic, his industrious nature and design capabilities; if he did not have a tool for the job, he would make it. He built homes, storage buildings, workshops, and fences, moved barns, and repaired whatever was needed around the house.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, siblings baby Jimmy Lee, Charles Grady, Ann Lombard, Sharon Cato, Katherine Dykes, Clara McKinney, and Joyce Davis.

SURVIVORS: His wife of 38 years. Children in Texas: Mick Grady and wife Arlene, Cathy Heckman and husband Rodney, Keith Grady and wife Vanessa. Children in New Jersey: Karen Jones and husband Jim, William Luke and wife Cheryl, and Susan Strom and husband Ron. Grandchildren in Texas: Kyle and wife Tabitha Grady, Kristi Zapata and husband Alex, Riley Heckman, Mitzi and husband Donnie, Justin and wife Jessica Goss, Veronica and husband Adam McCaskill. Grandchildren in New Jersey: Jimmy and wife Erin, Nicholas and finance Nyssa, Dawn Velarde, Savannah Strom and finance Dave Graziano, and Ronnie Strom. Sixteen Great-Grandchildren.