Billie Jean Jayroe

Billie Jean Jayroe March 4, 1929 February 13, 2011 Billie Jean "BJ" Jayroe, 82, of Waco, Texas passed away Sunday, February 13, 2011, at her residence. Memorial Services will be held 12:00 noon, Saturday, February 19th, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with the Reverend Jack Mullins officiating. Burial will precede the Memorial Service and will be held at Waco Memorial Park for family and close friends at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 19th. Visitation with the family will be held Friday, February 18th at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Billie Jean was born March 4, 1929 in Palestine, Texas to Dr. Jerome William and Thelma Broughton. Her family later moved to Waco, Texas where she attended school and graduated from Waco High in 1946. In 1948 BJ met and married her husband and dance partner of 52 years, Stanley Gordon Jayroe. Together, Billie Jean and Stanley moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend the Illinois College of Optometry where they both earned their Doctor of Optometry. BJ was one of three women out of a class of over 100 graduates. In 1951 they returned to Waco where they raised their children and worked in the family owned optometry business, Doctors Broughton and Jayroe, for 33 years until they retired in 1987. Billie Jean was active in many organizations including being a charter member of the Daughters of the Nile Merak Temple, a charter member and past President of the Woodway Garden Club, a charter member of Lakewood Christian Church, where she participated as a greeter and member of the Forum Class, and a member of the 50 Year Club of the Illinois College of Optometry. BJ and Stanley enjoyed traveling, both abroad and throughout the United States. BJ especially loved dancing and was a member of the Central Texas Stardust Ballroom and Cabaret Dance Clubs. Billie Jean was preceded in death by her husband Stanley who passed away in 2000 and by her parents who passed away in 1984. She is survived by her two sons and their wives; Bill and Sally Jayroe of Houston, Texas and David and Susan Jayroe of Waco, Texas; and her grandchildren William Chase Jayroe and his wife Paige, Marissa Lynn Jayroe, Christine Elizabeth Rosen and her husband Jacob, Landon Broughton Jayroe, Hunter Gordon Jayroe, Haley Alexandra Jayroe and great-granddaughter Kapri Elizabeth Rosen. Billie Jean was an important part of our family and she will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are made to the Shriner's Hospital in Galveston, Texas 815 Market St. Galveston, TX 77550-2725 or to Lakewood Christian Church, 6509 Bosque Blvd. Waco, TX 76710 or a charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.