Billie Anne Graem passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 7, 2024 in Richardson, Texas. She moved to Richardson to be near her son for her remaining days.
Billie was a resident of Schulenburg for 36 years. Despite living in Edinburg, Victoria, San Antonio, Houston and Alvin, she always considered Schulenburg to be her home. She was a proud and active member of Schulenburg Methodist Church for most of that time. Most recently, she lived in the Regency Villas where she made many wonderful friends.
She was an active member of the Literary Club, Garden Club and others. Billie helped with the planning, fundraising and building of the Schulenburg Public Library. She was very proud of the library.
She was born in Memphis, Tennessee on Aug. 14, 1937 to Margaret Evelyn Grentzenberg Hirons and Ray Acklam Hirons. She grew up in Edinburg, Texas and graduated from Edinburg High School before going to San Marcos to get her teaching degree. She went on an annual trip with a group of friends from elementary school. In later years, they referred to themselves as the Golden Girls. In Houston, she lived next door to Sharon Rankin where they became such close friends they were like sisters. Sharon moved to Schulenburg and Billie soon followed.
Billie was a junior high teacher in Alvin, and went back to college to get her library certification where she became the school librarian for the remainder of her career. She never stopped reading.
Billie leaves her son Ray Angus McLeod and her beautiful daughterin- law Merrie Nell McLeod of Addison, Texas; her step-daughters Tammy Ann Graem and Lesa Ruth Graem Pollinard of Santa Fe, Texas; her cousins Sara Evelyn Vinson Mull and Martha Janice Vinson Davis of Waco, and Fred Newton Vinson Jr. of Dallas’ along with all their children and grandchildren.
She was preceded by her loving husband Delbert Lewis Graem; her parents Ray Acklam Hirons and Margaret Evelyn Hirons; and her aunt and uncle Martha Billie Grentzenberg and Fred Newton Vinson of Waco.
Her service will be Saturday May 18, 2024 at the First Methodist Church of Schulenburg, 209 North Upton Ave. Visitation will be at 9:45 a.m. and the memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m.
Donations can be made to First Methodist Church of Schulenburg and the Schulenburg Public Library.