201 W. Maple St.
Whitewright, TX 75491
606 S. Carter Street
Helen Billner
Mary Helen Maddux Billner was born January 8, 1926 in Whitewright, Texas to Robert Dudley Maddux and Bessie Mae Jarvis Maddux. She married William James "Dub" Billner on October 8, 1945 in Gatesville, Texas. She died Monday, February 9, 2015 at Redbird Manor in Sanger, Texas at the age of 89. She was a resident of Whitewright, Texas.
Helen was a secretary for the City of Whitewright for over 27 years. She was a former member of the Oak Hill Cemetery Association and a member of the Church of Christ.
She is survived by sons, William J. "Jim" Billner, Jr and his wife Betty of Sanger, and Larry J. Billner and his wife Dee Ann of Whitewright; daughter, Jan Billner Flynn of Collinsville; grandchildren, William J. Billner III and his wife Julie of North Richland Hills, Bradley Flynn and wife Katy of Littleton, Colorado, Travis Billner of Whitewright, Lacy Bambico and husband Casey of Whitewright; great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Austin and Berkleigh Billner, Colton Bambico and Hadley Flynn; sister, Ruth Rutherford of Salado. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Dub Billner; parents; and brother, Jarvis D. Maddux.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Friday, February 13, 2015 at the Church of Christ, Whitewright, Texas. Officiating the service will be Mr. Charles Wrenn. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright, Texas. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to the funeral home at their convenience on Thursday to pay their respects and to sign the register book. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Thursday, February 12, 2015 from 6-8 PM at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, Whitewright, Texas.
Deepest Sympathy Patsy and Sherri Smith, February 12, 2015 Helen was Whitewright's, yet with her passing, Texas has lost one of its Grand Dames. Congenial. Sophisticated. Beautiful. Funny. Welcoming. Fashionable. Dependable. Honest. And any other complimenting superlative one can think of. Always a kind word, a hearty hello, a hug and a smile. And like all Great Texas Ladies, she never went anywhere without her makeup on and her signature red lipstick. Bright yellow was the color of The Billner Home. It matched Helen's personality to a "T." And beside it, the architectural gem of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Maddux. How fortunate The Billner Family was to have lived next door to two of the sweetest folks -- and grandfolks! -- that ever graced terra firma. When the water bill payment was ready, I delivered the check in-hand just to see and chat with Helen. 10 minutes in Helen's presence brightened my day. When Dad was Mayor, he continually sang Helen's praises. She was proactive. Civic-minded. And incredibly supportive. One day, I was helping Dad at the drugstore; Helen called. I could tell it was urgent and I handed the phone to Dad. It was one of those conversations where Dad knew to just listen. From a distance of six feet I could hear Helen talking a mile a minute. In about two minutes Dad said, "You made the right decision and thanks for letting me know." Receiver back on the base, Dad looks at me, I raise my eyebrows as if to say "Yes?" and Dad says, "Helen Billner is the best. She takes charge, keeps me in-the-loop and makes my job as Mayor easier. I couldn't do it without her." Helen and Dub raised three great children. One, Larry, is my buddy. Jim, my hero (Thanks for beautifying Whitewright's carscape with your Mustang Mach 1. Here's hoping you still have it!). Jan, I remember your inheriting your Mom's and Mrs. Maddux' reserve and sophistication. Count me as one that will miss Helen, madly. And now, in Helen's honor, I'm off to listen to the song "Heaven," by The Talking Heads on their "Stop Making Sense" album. At this time, its sentiment, message and heavenly melody is perfect. Ben (nee, Richard) Walker, February 11, 2015 Enjoyed talking to Helen whenever she called M-L Funeral Home to have me sign a guest register for her. She was always so cheerful, even in her later years when she didn't feel great. Sweet lady. We are thinking of her family & hope they are comforted by God's love. James & Kay England, February 11, 2015