Billie Lou Schultz

Billie Lou Schultz of Waco passed away Sunday, November 25, 2007, surrounded by her family. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 28, at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Robbins and Rev. Don Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, November 27, at Wilkirson Hatch Bailey Garden Room. Billie was born June 20, 1931, in Ralls, Texas, to William and Mattie Lou Betts. She lived in West Texas and then the McKinney area for most of her young life. After graduating from McKinney High School, she attended Texas Tech University where she was a Texas Tech Beauty. She married her college sweetheart, Fred James Schultz, in Lubbock, Texas, on February 11, 1951. She and Fred had their two adored daughters, Beth and Sally, in Abilene, Texas, before the family moved to Waco, where they spent the next wonderful 46 years. Billie was an active community volunteer for The Junior League of Waco, The Waco Cotton Palace, Waco ISD PTAs, Meals on Wheels, the Junior Shakespeare Club, and Austin Avenue United Methodist Church. A long time member of the AAUMC, she regularly commented on the beauty of the sanctuary, prayed for its pastors, and especially loved The Rev. Tom Robbins as one of her own. A highlight of every week was the Sunday morning meeting of her close-knit Sunday School Class, The Pathfinders. Billie always made sure her pantry was stocked with the ingredients she would need to take a dish to a sick or bereaved friend. Billie was a loving mother and wife and generous friend. Her home was always open to Beth and Sally’s many friends, who continued to stop by to visit even into adulthood. Her sugar cookie cutouts, which were perfect to see and delicious to eat, delighted many children when Billie made them for special holidays. Even when she was sick, she worried she wouldn’t be able to make sugar cookies for Halloween for her youngest friends. She will be remembered as a gracious lady with a warm and beautiful smile, a smile that could light up a small gathering or room. She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Beth Schultz Dardnne. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Fred James Schultz; her daughter, Sally Schultz Bledsoe and husband Johnny; her son-in-law, Jimmy Dardnne; her treasured grandchildren, Taylor Bledsoe & wife Jordan, Ginny Bledsoe, Mike Dardnne and Scott Dardnne; and her best friend of 40 years, Reba Campbell. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Attas for his spiritual counsel and medical help. Honorary pallbearers are Michael Attas, Bill Bailey, Bill Beazley, O.H. Browning, Dave Campbell, Barker Chapman, Bob Claypool, Billy Davis, Ted Getterman, Walter D. Hunter, Jr., Norman Hay, Dalton Jaynes, M.M. Key, Fred Lee, Howard Mauldin, Don McAlister, Austin McCloud, Carl McIntosh, Tommy McWilliams, Arnold Miller, Dave Neisch, Frank Nix, Julian Oates, Douglas Pitts, Eddie Lee Thompson, Jack Walker, Murray Watson, Carroll Webb and Pat Pattillo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, 1300 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX 76701; Waco ISD Education Foundation, P.O. Box 2369, Waco, TX 76703, or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.