Billie Jo “Mema” (Heflin) Raether December 6, 1931 ~ January 20, 2025 (age 93)

Memorial services for Billie Raether, 93, of Portales, will be held at 10:00 AM, Sat., Feb 22, 2025 at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Danny Barker officiating.  Interment will be in the Portales Cemetery.

Billie Jo Raether, known to many as “Mema,” was born Dec. 6, 1931 in Sylvester, TX to the home of Naomi Juanita (Cheney) and William Green Heflin and died early on the morning of Jan. 20, 2025, at Good Life Assisted Living Center where she had been a resident for the past five years.

Billie grew up in Morton, TX where she received her schooling.  She went on to Cosmetology School, and eventually was certified to teach.  For many years she operated Billie’s Hair Designs.

In 1950, she was married to John D. Lackey.  Mr. Lackey came from a family of 12 children, and Billie came from a family with 9, so there was an abundance of cousins for the son and two daughters that were born to their home.  The couple was married for 25 years.  Later she was married to Deal Stowe.  They were married only a short time before Mr. Stowe died of cancer.

In 1981, she was married to the “love of her life,” Herman Raether.  They were married at First Baptist Church by Dr. Herbert Bergstrom.  The ceremony was followed by dancing in the parking lot of the bank across the street.  It was with Mr. Raether that Billie learned to play.  He worked for the railroad, and was off for one week out of every four.  During those weeks he taught her to play golf, took her fishing and traveled.  They had a wonderful life together.  After he retired in the mid 1980’s they moved to Ruidoso, where they enjoyed their beautiful home, as well the wild life that frequently visited them.  Mr. Raether died in 1993, and a year or so later, Billie returned to Portales.  She built a new home, and re-joined Billie’s Hair Designs where she worked one day a week.

Billie was a faithful Christian who lived her faith every day.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she chaired the Bereavement Committee, providing countless meals for grieving families over the years.  She loved children, but knew how to be lovingly firm.  For a number of years, she taught Children’s Church.  She, along with several others created a play depicting the resurrection, which they performed at Easter for the youngsters.  Billie was an active participant in the Ladies’ Sunday School Class, and contributed to their numerous outreach projects.  Billie was a loving, outgoing and contributing member of the community.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Delores and Dwayne Hardt of Portales and a son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Pamela Lackey of Albuquerque; four grandchildren, Stephanie Madrid, Steven (Thao) Lackey, Jenna Lackey and Jeff (Shannon) Hardt; three great-grandchildren, Brettnie (Eduardo) Arzate, Fidel Madrid, Jr. and Courtenie Madrid; and two great-great-grandchildren, Liam and Luca Arzate; a brother, Bill Heflin of Albuquerque; and two sisters, Lora “Sis” Troxell of Farmington, NM and Doris Ann Taylor of Cadiz, KY.  She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Wilson Heflin, four sisters, Wilma Dolle, Carolyn Womack, Wanda Reeves and Maxine Hutchins, as well as by a daughter, Tammy Lackey who died in 1996.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Billie Jo “Mema” (Heflin) Raether, please visit our floral store.