Billie June Plumlee Willingham

Billie June Plumlee Willingham stepped peacefully from this life onto the shores of eternity in the early morning hours of September 29, 2026, at the age of 96 years. Billie June was born June 26, 1930, in Cooke County Texas to William Barlowe Plumlee and Cassie Arlena Stone Plumlee. The 14th of 15 children Billie June grew up outside of Callisburg, TX. Living among a large loving family she spent her time working on the farm, running and playing through the fields and creek bottoms with her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, and attending the Callisburg Church of Christ.

She attended Rock Creek School outside of Callisburg until the 8th grade, the highest grade at that school. She then spent her high school years commuting to Gainesville where she graduated with the Gainesville class of 1948.

A short time after graduation she met the love of her life and after a 3-week whirlwind courtship she married Eddie Wayne “Willie” Willingham on July 5, 1948. Over the course of the next 77 years, they would live in five different states as Eddie traveled with his job. They spent a large amount of time in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming and Montana before retiring and settling back in Cooke County in North Texas.

During all those travels Billie June raised a family, worked several different jobs, was active in a number of charitable and nonprofit organizations. She was a leader in the Brownies and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, an active volunteer in her children’s schools, organized several ladies’ groups and wives clubs and was always active in church.

After Willie’s retirement they returned to North Texas buying property where the old Rock Creek School she went to as a child sat, and opened Willingham’s Rock Creek Store and gas station. They served the area for several years until a tornado forced the closing of the store. They built a new home on 20acres just north of Callisburg where, after a short break Billie began to take classes in Real Estate getting her license and beginning a new career in her late 60’s.

Throughout their lives, Willie and Billie owned and flew a plane had motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, and motorhomes. They traveled, camped, boated, snow skied and snowmobiled from the Alaskan peninsula to the Gulf of Mexico. Somehow, they also managed to raise a family of four sons and one daughter.

Billie June was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers and seven sisters. Her husband of 77 years E.W. Willie Willingham; son, James Earl; grandson, Daniel Wayne; and daughter-in-law, Kim.Billie June is survived by her daughter Donna Elaine Craine and husband Jim of Longmont, Colorado; son Byron Wayne Willingham of Rock Springs, Wyoming; son Benjamin Carl Willingham and wife Brenda of Callisburg, Texas; son Mitchell Ryan Willingham and wife Heather of Gainesville, Texas; daughter-in- law Leslie Willingham of Gainesville, Texas; and sister Ruth Plumlee McDonnell of Collinsville, Texas.

She is also survived by nine grandchildren, seventeen great- grandchildren, one great-great- grandchild, dozens of nieces, nephews, church family, and friends.

There will be a memorial service on Friday October 23, at the Callisburg Church of Christ at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Callisburg Church of Christ building fund or the Alzheimer’s Association.

The family would like to thank Concho Hearts Hospice and the nurses and staff of Pecan Tree Health and Rehab facility for all the love and comfort they gave over the course of the last year.

You may sign the guestbook online at www.geojcarroll.com.