Billy Roy Pate

Billy Roy Pate, born on June 18, 1945 in Corsicana, Texas to Roy Irvin Pate and Doris Sullivan Ward died at the age of 80 years on November 15, 2025 in Franklin, Texas. A family visitation will be on Tuesday, November 18, at Blair-Stubbs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Services will be held on Wednesday, November 19, at 11:00 a.m. in the Blair-Stubbs Chapel. Interment will follow in the Mexia Cemetery.

Born during World War II, Bill’s father served overseas in the Army. With his father in the service, Bill and his mother lived with his maternal grandmother and visited with his paternal grandparents in Corsicana, Texas. Bill later spent his childhood years in Rockdale where he graduated from Rockdale High School in 1966 recognized as a Class Favorite, Most Likely to Succeed, Class Officer while also excelling in football, basketball, golf and track.

Bill attended Texas Tech while working part-time as a salesperson for Montgomery Ward in Lubbock. After graduating from Tech, Bill embarked upon a career in Albuquerque with Montgomery Ward where he was quickly named as the “Youngest National Retail Sales Manager” in the company’s history.

With that accomplishment, Bill was promoted and transferred to Chicago where he lived for years, achieving many awards and recognitions in the furniture industry. Bill later established his own companies where he loved traveling to attend national and international wholesale events with his favorites being in the Far East and High Point Market, North Carolina.

Despite his travels and amazing career, nothing meant more to Bill than his family back in Texas, especially his daughter, Jennifer and his mother, Doris. Bill did his best to never miss important family milestones such as holidays, births, birthdays, graduations, and family reunions. By far, Christmas was his favorite time of the year. Bill never missed his annual trip to the farm where he would stay a week with his mother and where the family gathered to celebrate, share memories, and play serious dominos. While Bill loved to go overboard to get everyone the perfect gift from “Santa”, his greatest gift was time and love.

After his wife Olivia’s death in 2023, Bill relocated to Franklin, Texas to be closer to his daughter, grandchildren and extended family. When his health prevented him from traveling in these final years, the family came to him to celebrate holidays, most recently his 80th birthday in June.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 33 years, Olivia Pate; mother, Doris Ward; father and stepmother, Roy and Melva Pate; nephew Jason Ward, and his beloved grandparents.

Bill is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Wade Neyland; siblings: John (Amy) Ward, Amelia (Jack) Chapman, Sandra (Mike) Langston, and Debra Newberry. He also leaves his treasured grandchildren, Lacy (Russell) Pasket, Janie (Drew) Elliott, and Pate (Morgan) Neyland, great-grandchildren Wade Pasket and Cole Elliott, and bonus grandchildren Jesse, Mia, Vince and Carter. Surviving nieces and nephews are James (Sara) Ward, Clint Smith, Kyle Smith, Heather (Rhett) McNallie, Scott (Zaina) Langston, Adam Langston, Millie (Dwayne) Hill, bonus nephew Spencer (Jessica) Thomas, and many great- nieces and nephews

The family thanks the impeccable care provided by Amedisys Hospice, Lynn and Chaplain Christopher, as well as his team of special caregivers: Tracy 1, Tracy 2, Logan, Autumn, Courtney, Samantha, Gloria, Joann, Delores, Mary Nell, Cynthia, Crystal, Nelda, Monica, Corinna, and Lauren.

Honorary Pallbearers: John Ward, Wade Neyland, Mike Langston, Jack Chapman, Jerry Sullivan and Dick Deabler.

Pallbearers: Pate Neyland, Russell Pasket, Drew Elliott, James Ward, Clint Smith, Kyle Smith, Scott Langston, Spencer Thomas, Adam Langston, Rhett McNallie, Dwayne Hill, Hunter Hill and Chaston Ellison.