Billy Don Miracle

November14, 1935 – January 25, 2022

The Dash – Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral

Of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone

From the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke

Of the following date with tears, but he said what

mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent

Alive on earth and now only those who loved them

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own, the cars…

The house…the cash. What matter is how we

live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard; are there things

You'd like to change? For you never know how much

time is left that can still be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation

More and love the people in our lives

Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear

A smile...remembering that this special dash might

Only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life's actions

To rehash…would you be proud of the things

They say about how you lived your dash?

This was a favorite of Billy's we thought it was appropriate for this memorial. We would like to share the highlights of his life with you, his family and friends.

Billy was born in Greenville Texas on November 14, 1935. His was raised in the Baptist church, learned to drive a commercial milk truck (Father Fussie's job) at an early age and, with his sister Sarah, had a basic wholesome upbringing that was common of the time.

At age 15, an exciting opportunity was presented and he travelled to work for the Oklahoma Contracting Company on the pipeline that was being constructed in Westfield, Ma. He went with the McMillon family and made memories that would last a lifetime! They still told stories that made your stomach hurt from laughter...especially when told from the perspective of a teen!

Billy attended Greenville Highschool and played right guard in football. It was here that he and Ann became high school sweethearts as she was one of the cheerleaders of GHS! He also developed a love for cars….really anything that had wheels!

After graduating High School, Billy attended University of Texas in Austin. He would make the trip back to Greenville to visit his sweet heart, Ann, stretching the gas by coasting in his old car as far as he could before putting his foot down to eat up the distance between Austin and Greenville. He would tell the family that there was a section of highway between the two cities, close to home, where he could coast for some time. We have never confirmed that! This went on for 2 years.

On December 2, 1956, Billy married Ann, put college on hold, and settled in Greenville working for Tempco as a draftsman. In October of 1957, their family grew as the first child arrived, James Kyle. Billy Don was now a husband and father.

His passion for motorsports grew as well. Billy worked on and raced go-carts and developed other hobbies around the hydro plane boat and other cars all the while involving family and friends to be involved in his experience. Billy loved cars. He could tell you make and model and engine dynamics of just about every popular car of the time. He could also tell you the history of the company that made such car if you had the stamina to listen!

In 1962 the family grew once again. Karyn Ann was born in March. By 1964 it was time to finish the degree he had started. A lot of hard work later, Billy graduated from SMU Dallas Texas and was hired by Hewlett Packard. The Miracle Family was on the first of their grand adventures!

Hewlett Packard moved the family to Loveland Colorado in July 1966. Taking advantage of all Colorado had to offer Billy became an avid outdoorsman partaking in fly fishing, hunting, camping and weekend excursions in a newly purchased butter yellow V6 soft top Jeep. He was a youth football coach and boy scout leader and loved what he did. Billy and Ann built their dream home on 5 acres in Campion, Colorado where he could be seen on weekends riding his small John Deere tractor with his John Deere hat on keeping the grounds trimmed. Life was good!

In July of 1981. Empty nesters, Billy and Ann once again set out for another grand adventure through Hewlett Packard. This time they were headed for the Pacific Northwest, Everett Washington. What an adventure it was! Again, as was his approach to most things, Billy learned everything he could about the history and landscape of the area and what better way to do that than to acquire and ride motorcycles….and co-captain friends' sailboats. Retirement loomed and so did the freedom it brought. Billy and Ann explored the area then branched out. They eventually graduated to Harleys and logged in over 60,000+ miles over 48 states and included Canada. They also had the wonderful opportunity through friends to sail the Caribbean, South Pacific which included the Windward Islands. When he was home, he could still be seen on weekends riding his John Deere tractor, though the property was much smaller, wearing his John Deere hat.

Another adventure loomed, one last move. Camano Island Washington. It drew Billy with its view of Port Susan, small community atmosphere and a home with beautiful view and wonderful neighbors. Not only that but the hopes of a glimpse and snapping a pic of the Pacific Northwest Sasquatch or Big Foot with his ever- present camera was attractive as well. A John Deere riding mower replaced the tractor but his ever- present John Deere hat remained the same. The property larger this time.

Life had reached full circle for Billy. It is here that his every present John Deere hat has its final resting place. A life lived to the fullest, experienced to its best, and travelled the full distance.