Obituaries
Billy Moore Clinton
By Wise Funeral Home
Mar 12, 2025
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Billy Moore Clinton passed away from this life on March 8, 2025, at his home in Savoy, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Wise Funeral Home.

Billy was born on July 26, 1947, in Sherman, TX to Abner (A.M) and Willie Marie Clinton. From an early age, Billy exhibited the qualities that would come to define his life: faithfulness, determination, resilience, dedication and honesty. Billy was raised on a Grade A dairy farm with his parents and siblings, Darrell and Kay north of Savoy. Hard work was instilled in the Clinton family from an early age. Billy attended Savoy Schools and attended Grayson County College where he excelled academically and obtained his Associate of Business Administration degree. He continued his college studies at East Texas State University in Commerce, TX.

Billy married Lavonna Fay Puckett on July 18,1969. They were blessed with three children, Sheri, Tammie and Billy Forrest. He and Lavonna were married for 52 years and shared a great love of God, Family and Friends. Billy worked in furniture production in McKinney, TX and started his own side upholstery business working out of his garage until he was able to open Clinton Home Furnishings and Upholstery in downtown Howe, TX. His business thrived for 44 years as he and Lavonna worked together, building relationships and long-lasting friendships.

Being a Christian was Billy’s priority in life. He was a faithful member of the Ivanhoe church of Christ. He was baptized at the age of 10. Reading his Bible daily brought him great happiness. Over the years, Billy served the Lord’s church in many capacities. Including Bible class teacher, Songleader, Deacon, Elder, teaching the gospel on mission trips, and mentor to many.

Billy loved God, Wife, Family, Friends, Texas and Country with much zeal. He taught himself to play the guitar and enjoyed playing and singing for everyone. Lavonna’s chocolate pie was his favorite thing to eat. Billy loved raising a vegetable garden, playing 42 and checkers. He loved riding horses, whitewater rafting, snowmobiling, hiking, shooting guns and traveling with Lavonna.

Billy was very proud of his family. He was active in the lives of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Billy loved to laugh. Billy was a friend to all and never missed an opportunity to share the Word of God or encourage others. Many people felt his love and friendship through his prayers, visits and advice.

Billy is survived by his children, Sheri Folkes and husband, Eric, Tammie Dickison and husband, Michael, and Billy F. Clinton and wife, Elisa; Grandchildren, Zachary Folkes (Blaire), Meagen Folkes, Daniel Dickison (Rhianne), David Dickison (Emily), Mark Dickison (Madeline), Melanie Tumlinson (Brayden), Kristen Lieske (Matthew), Kemplin Dickison (Lauren), William Clinton, Emelia Clinton and Samuel Clinton; Great Grandchildren, Madelynn Dickison, Miles Dickison, Katherine Dickison, and Kaylee Dickison; Sister, Kay Crabtree (Cecil), Sister-in-law, Sharon Davis (Durward), Sister-in-law, Robbie Clinton and dear family friend Andrew Smith. Billy Clinton is preceded in death by the love of his life, Lavonna Clinton, parents A.M. and Marie Clinton, and brother Darrell Clinton.

Since Billy was actually born at midnight according to his mother, he always said “I was born 7-27-47. I’m the second son of a second son. My daddy was a pistol. I’m a son of a gun.” A funeral service to celebrate Billy’s life will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. located at the Church of Christ in Howe, TX. The visitation will be held on March 13, 2025, at Wise Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Billy was dedicated to the furtherance of the gospel. In Billy’s honor, donations for mission work are requested to be made to the Ivanhoe Church of Christ, PO Box 322, Ivanhoe, TX 75447.

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    Water is flowing through five new streams in North Texas this spring, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and habitat loss. Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) restored the streams as part of environmental mitigation for future Lake Ralph Hall, Texas’s newest major lake under construction near Ladonia.
  • Prehistoric and Caddo artifacts on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    In conjunction with Heritage Day and the Vive le Bois d’Arc celebration on May 3, the Fannin County Museum of History is delighted to have a display of prehistoric and Caddo artifacts in the display case on the 2nd floor of the Fannin County Courthouse.
  • A Bonham legacy at our feet
    You walk into the Credit Union of Texas, Don Toro or Studio 94 on the east side of the Bonham square, into Belle Rae's on the north, into Blessing & Butterflies or The Curiosity Shop on Main south of the Courthouse: do you look down? What do you see when you cross the threshold into these businesses? Do you see Bonham's past?
  • Bonham postcards on display at Fannin County Courthouse
    Bonham resident Kay Sisk has collected postcards of Bonham for many years, finding them at trade shows and estate sales. Some of the postcards were given away free by local businesses, and some were sold. The Fannin County Museum of History asked Kay to display some of her postcards in the display case on the 2nd floor of the courthouse.
  • Mabel Gilbert – Early Fannin County pioneer
    Please join us at the March meeting of the Fannin County Historical Commission on March 18 at 6:00 p.m. to learn about the contributions of Mabel Gilbert, a very early Fannin County pioneer, to Fannin County, Dallas and points west. Deborah Cornelius has written a historical novel about his remarkable life and times. Join us at 6:00 p.m. on March 18 at the Fannin County Historical Commission’s office at 1 Center Street in Bonham to meet Deborah and learn about Mabel Gilbert’s time in Fannin County.
  • 'A Time Before Texas' presentation attracts large crowd to Honey Grove
    A large crowd filled Lyday Hall at Honey Grove Library & Learning Center on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to hear what local archeologist Cody Davis and his cohorts discovered in the area that is now covered by Bois d'Arc Lake.
  • New residents find a new fight: sand and gravel mining in Fannin County
    When Kalin and Tricia moved their young family from the city to rural Fannin County, it was a dream they had worked and saved to make come true -- to escape the noise and chaos of the metroplex for a peaceful existence, surrounded by woodlands, wildlife and serenity. Then they heard bulldozers clearing trees.
  • Smithsonian highlights the experiences and impact of Japanese war brides in new traveling exhibition
    "Japanese War Brides: Across a Wide Divide" begins a national tour December 14 at Irving Archives and Museum in Irving, Texas. These young women left their homes to build lives within the complexities of postwar American society. Their experiences reshaped communities by challenging immigration laws and race relations. The arrival of these brides marked the largest women-only immigration event in U.S. history and, by 1960, had increased the population of Asian Americans in the U.S. by 10%.
  • Give a gift of Fannin County history
    The Fannin County Museum of History has several Fannin County history books for sale that might be just perfect for someone you know. The books are available for purchase at the Museum and are also available on Amazon.
  • Historic Christmas newspaper front pages from Fannin County
    Historic Fannin County newspapers often featured beautiful front pages for their Christmas editions. An exhibit of these newspapers is now on display on the 2nd Floor of the Fannin County Courthouse. Visit the courthouse during this season to view this display and beautiful decorations.
  • Lake Ralph Hall update: Five streams are springing to life
    Upper Trinity's contractors are finishing up construction on five new streams near future Lake Ralph Hall, which will flow into the North Sulphur River. The newly connected tributary streams are naturally beginning to flow with rainwater this fall, bringing life back to areas impacted for decades by severe erosion and loss of habitat. Restoring the tributaries of the river to their natural, curved paths helps mitigate the area's severe erosion and provide previously lost habitat.
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