BILLIE MARIE THAYER of Little Rock
died November 26, 2020 of complications from COVID-19. Billie was born in Shawnee, Okla., on December 18, 1928, the only child of Paul and LaVon Howell. She graduated from Oklahoma City’s Central High School and attended Ward Belmont School for Girls in Nashville, Tenn., and the University of Oklahoma.
While in high school, Billie met her one true love, Walter
Thayer, and they were married September 10, 1948. Walter preceded Billie in death by only two weeks, and he no doubt rejoiced when she joined him in heaven shortly after his arrival.
Around the time of her marriage, Billie was employed by Southwestern Bell in Oklahoma City. After she and Walter moved to Little Rock in 1963, she worked in the accounting department at Immanuel Baptist Church (where she and Walter were faithful members 57 years and Billie served for many years in the married young adults Sunday School department) and in the purchasing department at St. Vincent’s Hospital.
An exemplary homemaker, Billie was an accomplished seamstress who made clothes for her two daughters when they were young, and an excellent cook. She and Walter loved hosting family and friends for meals in their home on North Bryan. Recipe cards “from the kitchen of Billie Marie Thayer” have now been passed down to two generations, and tasty dishes that originated with Billie will be enjoyed for years to come.
She loved playing bridge, whether with the ladies’ clubs to which she belonged over the years, or when she and Walter would play with other couples or family members. Most recently they enjoyed playing with their friends at Parkway Village, where they moved in 2016.
The only thing that might have kept Billie away from a bridge game was college football. She was a devoted fan, especially of the Oklahoma Sooners, and her daughters were rocked to sleep as babies to the tune of “Boomer Sooner.” Friends and family knew, for Billie and Walter, fall Saturdays were reserved for watching games, and if Oklahoma happened to be playing, they were to be disturbed only in the event of an emergency.
Billie loved her family and zealously embraced her role as grandmother. Even though there were miles between them and their grandchildren, Billie and Walter played a key role and had a strong influence in the lives of all of them. In the last several years, they were delighted by the great-grandchildren who joined the family.
In addition to her parents and husband, Billie is predeceased by a daughter, Terri Lee Thayer.
She is survived by her two daughters, Susan McKinney (husband Bob) of Brentwood, Tenn., and Kay Ely (husband John) of Little Rock; six grandchildren, Daniel McKinney (wife Krista) of Marietta, Ga.; Maggie Majors (husband Ben) of Huntsville, Ala.; David McKinney of Birmingham, Ala.; Chris Watson of Arlington, Va.; Katie Watson of Vienna, Va.; and Garrett Watson of Alexandria, Va. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Little Rock’s Immanuel Baptist Church.
A graveside service to celebrate the lives of both Billie and Walter will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 5th at Pinecrest Memorial Park, 7401 AR 5-N, Alexander, Ark., under the direction of Roller Chenal Funeral Home. In accordance with COVID-19 protocols, those in attendance are asked to wear masks and observe appropriate distancing.
To sign the online guestbook, visit: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.