BILLY ANTHONY HIGHSMITH, 63, was born in
Ranger, TX on Aug. 1, 1933, to Amizon Massey &
Bonnie Anthony Highsmith. He was in the Ranger
High School Class of 1951 and died Oct. 9, 1996,
while living in Weatherford. Billy married Ruby
Edwards (RHS-1960), formerly of Ranger. He was
previously married to the late Doris Marie Squyres
(RHS-1950) and they had three daughters, Carolyn
Highsmith Monroe (RHS-1973), Pat Highsmith Proffit
(RHS-1977) and Anita Highsmith Boone (RHS-1981).
Billy & Doris Marie had operated the Cattlemen's
Restaurant in Eastland for many years. Billy served
in the U.S. Air Force.
SISTER: BONNIE FAY HIGHSMITH, 93, of Olden,
TX went home to be with her Lord and Savior June 11,
2014. Bonnie passed in the night surrounded by her
loving children & grandchildren, with burial at the
Merriman Cemetery near Ranger, TX.
Bonnie was born July 9, 1920 in Jones Co. to Bonnie
Anthony & Amizon Sarah Massey Highsmith. She married
Henry Clifford "Blackie" Fox in December of 1939 in
Olden, TX and in 1953 Bonnie and Blackie moved to
Olden to make a home for their seven children. She
was mostly a homemaker, lovingly taking care of her
husband and children but at times she worked outside
the home to help her family. Bonnie worked for a time
at the Ramada Inn, Vasserette & for Harvell. Bonnie's
very first job was cook at Dairy Queen.
Bonnie continued her love of cooking and was known
for her Banana Pudding. Bonnie loved to watch the
birds and collect rocks. She was also a collector of
articles and poems she found in newspapers & magazines
she liked but Bonnie's life passion was always her
family and her God. She was a member of the Merriman
Baptist Church in Ranger.
Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents and her
loving husband of 58 years, Blackie Fox, a dearly
loved daughter, Betty Jean Tuttle, and brother.
At the time of her death she was survived by daughter,
Bonnie Stewart of Ranger, son, Clifford Fox of Big
Spring, son, Kenneth Fox of Olden, son Billy Fox of
Sugarland, daughter, JoAnn Johnson of Lindale, and
son Danny Ray Fox of Waxahachie. She is also survived
by 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 12
great-great grandchildren. Bonnie is survived by one
sister, Inez Fox Vinson of Olden and numerous nieces
and nephews who called Bonnie, Aunt Fay.
SISTER: INEZ HIGHSMITH FOX VINSON, 96,
entered her heavenly home on Aug. 30, 2015.
Willie Inez Highsmith was born March 12, 1919 in Van
Zandt County near Willis Point, TX to parents Amizon
Sarah Massey Highsmith & Bonnie Anthony Highsmith.
The family moved to Eastland county south of Ranger,
TX when she was a small child, there she attended
school and married a neighbor boy, Joe Mansel Fox.
Inez & Mansel moved to Olden where they raised their
family and shared 49 years of marriage before his
passing. She later married J.W. Vinson who also
preceded her in death.
Inez was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church
where she taught the primary class. She was active
in her children's activities and served as 4-H leader.
She was employed by the Vasserette sewing factory,
sewed for the public and alterations for Ford's Dry
Cleaners. A gifted seam-tress, she made many beautiful
clothes for her family.
Inez loved working in her flower gardens, watching
birds and butterflies, & taking walks to find unusual
rocks for her collection. She enjoyed cooking and
sewing with her granddaughters, and listening to her
grandsons sing and play the guitar and banjo. She
delighted in visits from great-grandchildren, making
pictures and doing puzzles with them. Inez loved her
Lord, her church, family and her community of Olden.
Besides her husbands and parents, Inez was preceded
in death by a son Charles Fox, sister Bonnie Fay Fox,
brothers Chester Highsmith, Carl Highsmith and Billy
Highsmith (RHS-1951). She is survived by her son Joe
Donald Fox and wife Barbara, daughter Glenda Steddum
and husband Cliff, 5 grandchildren and spouses, 11
great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, and
step-great and great-great grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, sister-in-law Annie Bell Fox & Mary Jo Fox.