Memorial services for Herschel Ray Billingsley, 79, of Portales, will be held at 1:00 PM, Sat., Feb. 4, 2017 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Johnny Lieb officiating. His many friends will be honorary pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home, 1356 NM 236, Portales, NM 88130 or the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, P O Box 629, Portales, NM 88130, or by credit card on our website at wheelermortuary.net.
Herschel Ray Billingsley was born to Gracie Lou (Dunn) and Hershel Rayborn Billingsley on June 19, 1937 in Eagle Pass, TX, and passed away on Jan. 23, 2017 in Clovis, NM. He was raised by his grandparents, E. U. and Minnie (Duvall) Billingsley in Farwell, TX. He went to first and second grade in Westcamp, TX. Ray started third grade in Farwell, and continued his education there until he graduated in the class of 1955. He was called HR when he was a young man by his family and school mates. Later in life his bus driver buddies started calling him Ray and that stuck with him for the rest of his life.
Ray moved to Yuma, AZ after graduation. He soon decided he needed more education and attended college in Monterey, CA. After working many different jobs, he started his career with the Greyhound Bus Co. Ray attended bus driving school and graduated in May of 1962, but he had to wait a month until he was 25 years old to start driving. He then dedicated the next 25 years to Greyhound and retired in 1986. During this time, he spent his vacations working with his brother-in-law, George Dick, on the family farm in Portales, NM.
Horse racing became Ray’s next endeavor in life. He and his wife Beverly traveled back and forth from Sunland, Ruidoso, Santa Fe and Retema Parks training and owning race horses. At one point he was one of the leading owners at Sunland Park.
When his brother-in-law needed help on the farm again he left horse racing and went back to the farm working full time. While farming he made connections in the trucking industry, and he started driving trucks hauling milk, corn to the dog food company, peanuts and other produce. Eventually Ray owned his own truck. At different intervals in Ray’s life, he and Beverly hauled goods all over the United States.
Ray lived his life to the fullest and had many adventures. He loved spending time with his family. He hauled his children to rodeos all over the state. He also enjoyed golfing with his bus driving buddies. He was a very loving and caring man and was loved by many. He will be missed dearly by his friends and family.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, his mother and father-in-law, Reet and Bill Dick, his best friend and brother-in-law, George Wiley Dick, and his three sons, Teddy, Bobby and Billy.
He is survived by his wife Beverly Ann Billingsley, daughters Tammy, Brenda and Terry, daughter in law Mochel Billingsley, his step-children, R. J.(Karen) Snell, Billy (Janice) Snell, Sharon Ybarra, Loretta (Steve) Groomer and Michelle Gonzales, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
