Billy Douglas Graf

Billy Douglas Graf was born September 7, 1938 in Waco, Texas.  He passed away to his heavenly home on January 14, 2024.

Billy was the son of Gladys Shaw Graf and Herman Lamar Graf of Eddy, Texas. 

Billy was baptized in 1954 at First Baptist Church, Eddy, Texas.  He graduated from Eddy High School in 1957.  On June 28, 1958 Billy married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara Ann Polk, at the bride’s home.

Billy’s adult life began with the Texas National Guard and work as a butcher with HEB.  He went on to work for 7-11 (Southland Corporation) and retired in 1985.  Billy worked his way up from store clerk, to store manager, to auditor, and finally to supervisor for 7-11 stores in Waco, Temple, Harker Heights and Copperas Cove.  After his retirement from 7-11, he and Barbara built a new home with their own hands in Eddy, Texas.  In 2005 Billy retired from a second career as a rural route mail carrier in Eddy.

Billy had a real love of plants, trees, and going to nurseries and arboretums.  He grew up helping his parents farm corn, okra, squash, potatoes, peas and tomatoes.  He shared this love with his daughters and grandchildren by teaching them the names of various plants and helping them with planting.  He loved seeing the wonder in his young grandchildren’s eyes when they helped him dig up fresh potatoes.

Billy also loved fishing.  He fished alone with his dog Smitty or with friends at local lakes and rivers.  He also took along 7-11 co-workers on fishing expeditions to the Texas coast.

Barbara and Billy raised two daughters, Teresa Graf Buck and Deena Graf Teakell.  Following the unexpected death of Billy’s youngest daughter, Barbara and Billy raised Deena’s two daughters as their own. Billy has four granddaughters – Barbara Teakell Sodek, Brenda Teakell, Lianne Buck Quinn and Alyssa Buck.  He also has three great-granddaughters -- Brianna, Kaitlynn, and Braylee -- and three great-grandsons – Caydn, Kyler, and Corbyn. 

Most of all Billy was kind and caring to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, customers, and even all the medical workers around him at the end.  He loved to talk with people and get to know them.

Billy was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Polk Graf, his brother Lester Lamar Graf, and his daughter, Deena Sue Graf Teakell.