Billye Jo (Brockette) Hestand January 10, 1924 ~ February 8, 2024 (age 100)

Graveside services for Billye Jo Hestand, 100, of Portales, will be held at 11:00 AM, Thurs., Feb. 15, 2024 in the Portales Cemetery with Scott P Reeves officiating.  All her grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers.

Billye Jo Hestand, an only child, was born Jan. 10, 1924 in Covington, TX to the home of Edith (Gee) and Burnett Jackson Brockette, and died on the evening of Feb. 8, 2024 in Portales, NM.  Billye Jo attended all twelve grades at a little red school house, and graduated in 1940 at the age of 16.  In high school, she played basketball for the Covington Owls, and served as the treasurer for her senior class.  On weekends she and her friends often had a weenie and marshmallow roast in the woods.  She, along with her family were members of the Methodist Church in Covington.

On July 9, 1941 in Springlake, TX, she was married to Ed Elvis Hestand.  Elvis was serving in the US Air Force for much of their first years of marriage.  Following his discharge in 1946, he went to work at Chisholm’s’ Floral in Littlefield, TX.  In 1949 they heard about a flower shop that was for sale in Portales, NM.  In Oct. of that same year, they moved to Portales and purchased Whitehouse Flowers, which was located at 920 W. University Drive.  The business had a basement, a bathroom, a kitchen and a work area.  So, the family lived in the basement for about five years.  While Elvis was gone on deliveries, Billye Jo cared for the kids and ran the shop.  In 1956, they were able to purchase the current location of Hestand Floral at 813 West Second.  They owned and operated that business together for over 30 years.  In the early 1980’s they sold it and retired.

Billye Jo became a member of the Church of Christ in 1969, and in 1973, she took on the role of an elder’s wife.  They first served at Fourth Street, and later at Third and Kilgore Church of Christ.  During the 20 years from 1973 to 1993, she and Elvis together ministered to countless families and in numerous and varied situations.

Billye Jo was dedicated to each of her family members.  She never missed a sporting school event for her children or grandchildren.  She loved watching pro basketball games, reading and crocheting.  In addition, she was an outstanding cook.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Carolyn Hestand of Raton, NM; her daughter, Brenda Kay Coday of Waxahachie, TX; five grandchildren, Kim (Bobby) Butler, Kent (LaDonna) Foster, Kris Foster, Jarred (Kerri) Hestand and Melissa (Derek) Bruns; as well as ten great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, a great-great-grandson, Granger Tabor Tipton, and by her beloved husband, Elvis, who died May 2, 2010 after nearly 70 years of marriage.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Billye Jo (Brockette) Hestand, please visit our floral store.