William "Billy" Lackey

The best man we ever knew, William "Billy" D. Lackey, Jr, age 71, passed away at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas on Friday, September 30, 2016. Billy Lackey was born in Garnett, Kansas to Bill and Betty Lackey on the 25th of March 1945. At the age of eight Billy would move with his family from Kansas to Texas. He would go to school in Aspermont and letter in football and basketball, graduating in 1963. He went on to attend Hardin-Simmons University. He married Linda Newman on the 18th of December, 1965, at the First Baptist Church of Aspermont. He served in the US Army from January 1966 to March of 1969. He went to Vietnam as a Field Medic serving an Engineer Battalion in the Sixth Army. Over the next 40 years he worked for the Florsheim, G.H. Bass, and Shoe Carnival shoe companies before going on to own and run both Fox and Eagle NDT, Oil and Gas Production service companies in Abilene, Texas. In addition to being a hardworking man, Billy had enjoyed playing golf at many of the best golf courses in the country. He also enjoyed fishing and catching a nap watching football or movies. Billy was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Betty Lackey and parents-in-law, J.F. and Moneta Newman. Billy is survived by his wife of fifty years Linda Newman Lackey; children Jerrol and spouse Kendra, Amber and spouse Melanie, and Emily; grandchildren Jenaya, Brynna, Colette and Jace; and brothers Glenn and spouse Deborah Lackey and Ronnie and spouse Tammy Lackey. Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 4th, between 4:00 and 7:00 PM at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 5th, at the First Baptist Church of Aspermont, Texas at 733 N Broadway Street with Glenn Lackey officiating. The burial will follow in Aspermont Cemetery. Relatives and friends are welcome at the service. Pallbearers will be David Newman, Kelsey Lackey, Kerry Lackey, Jason Lackey, Taylor Lackey, Kenneth Patterson, Greg Tedford, and Buster Chatham. Memorials may be given to Salvation Army of Abilene, Native American Heritage Foundation, and Coastal Conservation Association. The family of Billy wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at Hendrick Medical Center, including Dr. Talmadge Trammel, Dr. Joshua Reed and nurses Hailey, Michelle, Abby, Lindsey, Cheyenne, Jason and so many more of the wonderful nurses who cared for the best man we ever knew. Also special thanks to those generous individuals that have donated meals to the family.