Billie Lois (Armstrong) Kirby passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in Friona, Texas. Funeral services were held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 2:00 PM with Pastor Paul Kenley officiating at the First Baptist Church of Dimmitt, Texas. Burial to follow at Castro Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements and services have been entrusted to Colonial Funeral Home of Dimmitt, Texas. Family and friend visitation will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, from 11:00 AM-12:30 PM at the church.
Billie was born on April 25, 1929, in Lubbock, Texas, to Gentry Sheldon and Sadie Belle (Springer) Armstrong. Billie was raised in the Springlake community, attending grade school in Sunnyside. She graduated from Springlake High School at the age of 17.
Billie was a homemaker for many years and was known for her homemade pies. She made pies for the public and for Parson’s Drug Store. She worked in the Buccaneer Stamp Redemption Store, and in later years, she was the Supervisor of the Cafeterias of Dimmitt ISD. Billie loved her job, and she often shared most of her paycheck with those less fortunate.
Billie became a Christian at an early age, being baptized in a tank in the Sunnyside Community. She was very involved in church work all her life, most of it being in FBC Dimmitt after joining there in 1959. She served in WMU, various committees, including hospitality, and taught 3rd grade Sunday School for at least 30 years. She played the piano at Primera Iglesia Bautista Church during Sunday worship for many years. She ended her teaching years in the Sr. Adult Women’s Class. Much of her time was spent visiting and ministering to shut-ins. Billie, also, taught Bible Studies at the Senior Citizen’s Apartments. There was no doubt that she loved the Lord, and was so proud when each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild accepted Jesus as their Savior.
Billie enjoyed working in her yard and had beautiful flowerbeds. Her alley was as pretty as her yard. She loved cooking and serving others. Everyone was always welcome in her home and had to eat something while there. Some of the favorites were homemade cinnamon rolls, brownies with peanut butter frosting, pies of various kinds, homemade blizzards, and cobblers made from fruit that she put up herself.
She loved her grandkids and fussed over them with the things she knew they liked. There were not many family birthday celebrations that they missed. She and Troy loved family.
Troy and Billie moved to Lubbock on June 1, 2017, as their health began to fail. In December of 2019, they moved to Prairie Acres Nursing Facility in Friona, as they needed much more care.
Billie is survived by two daughters, Keri Jack and husband Galen of Friona and Bobbi Childers and husband Larry of Lubbock, and one son, Kent Kirby and wife Whitney of Fort Worth. The grandchildren are Kelly Jack and wife Teresa of Idalou, Jason Wooten and wife Carla of Dimmitt, Holly Noble and husband Justin of Blacksburg, VA, Rusty Wooten and wife Michelle of Lubbock, Callie Sanders and husband Mason of Amarillo, and Berkley Allen and husband Calvin of Amarillo. Great-grandchildren are Jared and Tyler Jack, Anna and Audrey Wooten, Eli and Zay Noble, Kirby Wooten, Trinity and Kane Allen, and Owen Sanders.
Billie was preceded in death by her husband, Troy, her parents, three brothers, Ollie Armstrong, Noble Armstrong and Orbie Armstrong, and one sister, Rowena (Armstrong) Cleavinger.
Memorials can be made to Prairie Acres Nursing Facility, 201 East 15th, Friona, TX., 79035, or to Bluebonnet Home Health and Hospice, 304 East 11th Street, Friona, TX., 79035.
You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.colonialfuneralhome.org
Larry Joseph Schilling, 77 of Amarillo, formerly of the Rhea Community, passed away January 27, 2025 in Amarillo. Private Inurnment will be held in the Friona Cemetery. Cremation arrangements entrusted to HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Larry was born October 31, 1947 in Lubbock to Lawrence Henry and Erma L. Heinrich Schilling. He attended Friona schools and was a Parmer County area farmer. Larry was an award-winning photographer and developed his own black and white photos. He was an avid reader and loved sunshine and walking. He found peace in solitude.
He is preceded in death by his parents- Lawrence and Erma, 2 brothers-Perry Schilling, and Dan Schilling, 3 sisters-Mary Alice Gustin, Angie Goodnough and Sandy Hughes.
Those to mourn his passing include his brothers-Jimmy Schilling of Amarillo, Vincent Schilling and wife Katherine of Hobbs, N.M., Clyde Schilling and wife Debbie and Tom Schilling and wife Nancy, all of Lubbock, and Kevin Schilling and wife Linda of Canyon, sisters-Linda Brower of Brookhaven, PA., and Brenda Whitmore and husband Dub of Brownwood, brother-in-laws-Clarence Hughes of Castlerock, CO., Donnie Gustin of Houston, and sister-in-law- Cathy Schilling of Portales.
You may send blessings to the family and sign the online guest book on Larry’s memorial page exclusively at: hansardfamily.com
Phila May Weatherly, 84, from Friona, TX, was called home by her Heavenly Father surrounded in love by her family on February 2 in Lubbock, TX. A celebration of life honoring her will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025, at Lake Ridge Chapel in Lubbock, TX. A graveside memorial will follow at 3:30 p.m. the same day at Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon, TX. For those unable to attend in person, Phila’s service will be live-streamed with viewing details available at www.memorialdesigners.net. Please visit her site to share cherished memories or comforting words for her family.