Billy James Oliver, 74, of Woodson, passed away Thursday, June 14, 2018. A visitation was held from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 19 at Morehart Mortuary Chapel. The family will hold a memorial service at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Morehart Mortuary.

Billy James Oliver was born Sept. 11, 1943 in Woodson, to Pete Oliver and Loraine Herrington Oliver. He graduated from Woodson High School in 1962 and married Linda Gunlock on June 1, 1963 in Breckenridge. 

He attended technical school in Fort Worth before returning to Breckenridge to work for Lone Star Gas. In 1967, he went to work for Koch Industries, working in Bowie and Breckenridge. In 1976, he bought his first truck and started Woodson Tank Trucks, Inc. He owned and operated WTT until selling in 1999. 

He tried retirement for a couple years but became a contract pumper for Burk Royalty in 2001. In 2002, he moved to Wise County to be closer to the leases. He retired from pumping in 2014. 

He loved to draw and was an avid reader, studying cattle driving and gold mining in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. He mastered the history of those areas as well as the people of those times. He loved sharing his stories with grandkids and anyone who would listen. He enjoyed dozens of trips to Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. 

He was a homebody, a family man, and when he wasn’t working he was going to grandkid’s activities, attending hundreds of games, tournaments, events and recitals. He loved fishing and working on projects in his shop. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; one niece, Darla Jo Morris; and one brother-in-law, Phillip Morris.

He is survived by his wife; two sons and daughters-in-law, Kurt and Edalia Oliver of Woodson, Gary and Ellen Oliver of Frisco; one brother, Roy Berl and wife Elwanna Oliver of Woodson; three sisters, Pam Oliver of Woodson, Faye Morris of Breckenridge, Darla Underwood of the Metroplex; seven grandchildren, Brea Wallace and husband Garrett, Janet Sullivan and husband Lance, Jackson Oliver, Ryan Oliver, Jake Oliver, Emma Oliver, Gunner Oliver; one great-granddaughter, Ella Sullivan; two foster sons, Lloyd Oliver of Fort Worth, Jim Oliver and wife Jill of Collinsville, Okla.; eight foster grandchildren; several foster great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Hank Gunlock of San Diego, Calif.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins whom he loved dearly.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to Meals on Wheels in Throckmorton and may be left at Morehart Mortuary. Condolences may be made online at www.morehartmortuary.net.