Billy Ray Poe

Billy Ray Poe, 69, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away Sunday morning, November 25, 2007, at his home with his family by his side at Lake Brownwood after a courageous battle with cancer. Private family graveside services were held on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the Potosi Cemetery with Reverend Bobby Machen officiating. Burial followed at the Potosi Cemetery. Services were under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Bill was born November 2, 1938, in Caps, Texas to LaDell and Georgia Mae Poe and was baptized in the Caps Methodist Church on March 28, 1948. While he was still a small child, Bill and his family moved to Cedar Gap, Texas, where he attended Wylie Elementary School and Wylie High School. Bill served in the United States Army from 1961 to 1963 and was honorably discharged into the United States Army Reserves where he served from 1963 to 1967. In September, 1965, Bill entered the Texas Department of Public Safety Officer Training School in Austin and upon graduation in May, 1966, was stationed in Houston, Texas. On May 24, 1966, Bill married the former Margie Briggs of Abilene in Austin, Texas. Bill and his family remained in Houston for three years- moving to Odessa in 1969, where he lived and worked as a Department of Public Safety Driver License Trooper and Motor Vehicle Inspection Trooper until his retirement as a commissioned peace officer in 1992. At that time he assumed the position of Motor Vehicle Inspection Supervisor for the Midland area of the Department of Public Safety where he remained until his final retirement in May, 1996. After retirement, Bill maintained his association with the DPS thru his commission as an Honorary Special Texas Ranger and as a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association and the Texas State Troopers Association. Following retirement, Bill and Margie relocated to Lake Brownwood. One of Bill's proudest accomplishments was obtaining his Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator Licenses. His call letters were WZ5E, and he was a member of the West Texas Amateur Radio Club. Thru this hobby, he spent many happy hours and communicated with and became friends with other "hams" around the entire world. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, and "just watching the things on and around the lake". Bill was preceded in death by his parents, LaDell and Georgia Poe; one sister and brother-in-law, Mae Dell and C.H. Collins; and one brother, Bruce Poe. Bill is survived by his wife, Margie of Lake Brownwood; one son and daughter-in-law, Alan Ray and Darlene Poe of Houston, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Kerri Denise and Jim Perkins of Katy, Texas; and one very special little grandson, Jordan Cole Perkins of Katy, Texas. The entire family wishes to express their deep and sincere appreciation to Lainey Hall, R.N. with VistaCare Hospice who was such a comfort and made this extremely difficult time bearable and to Kerri Martinez of Heart of Texas Internal Medicine Associates who has always been there for us since the beginning of Bill's illness. The family requests that memorial donations be directed to VistaCare Hospice Foundation, 402 North Bryant Boulevard, San Angelo, Texas 76903.