William "Bill" Douglas Dutton

William Douglas "Bill" Dutton, of Thornton, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2014 at home. He attended the Church of Christ in Old Union. He donated his body to science at Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2014, at the Church of Christ in Old Union, with Brother Glenn Easterly officiating. The service will be held following a luncheon at 12:30 at the church building on FM 937 for family and friends of the Duttons. Bill was born in Evant, on September 30, 1937 to Guy (Bill) Burton Dutton and Cenith Smith Dutton. He grew up in the De Leon-Dublin area, and during summer months and following high school, he worked construction, operating a drag line and driving trucks for bridge crews. Bill was united in marriage with Patricia Christmas in 1958 in Irving. Following their marriage, he began working at Dublin Sportswear, a trouser manufacturing plant in Dublin. He worked the line at various positions until promoted to Office Manager. When the factory sold in 1963, he went to work as Assisant Manager of J. B. White Department Store in Mineral Wells, and also was Manager or Assistant Manager for J. B. White Co. in Jacksonville, Groesbeck, and Hillsboro. Bill and Pat moved to Limestone County in 1965, where they have continued to live except for one year in Hillsboro. He worked for KBUS Radio in Mexia, and in 1970, was hired by the Mexia Daily News to be Editor of the Farm and Ranch Weekly newspaper. A few years later, in a partnership, he bought the Farm and Ranch publication and expanded circulation to cover Texas and the Southeastern and Southwestern states. He added two more publications to the company, the American Zebu Journal, a full color livestock magazine, and the Simmental South, a publication dedicated to the Simmental breed. He traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, working purebred cattle and horse sales as a ring-man and writing featured stories for the publications. In the 1970’s, Bill was inducted in the Cattleman’s Hall of Fame for his contributions in livestock publications. After closing his publications, he continued working cattle sales, and worked freelance for various cattle publications as a ring-man and writing feature stories, while he was also co-manager of Madison County Ranch Supply in Madisonville. In 1999, Bill reclaimed his truck driving skills, running over the road for a year, then began working as a local driver pulling a belly-dump. His final seven years were spent with Tutle and Tutle, a Cleburne trucking company with a terminal in Mexia. Bill loved the people and the travel the publication business allowed him. He also loved truck driving and building oilfield pads. He loved the members of his church and his wife, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, as well as his former employees, employers and fellow truck drivers. He was blessed by the many ranches he visited and the ranchers he was able to get to know. The time spent picking on fellow drivers on the CB radio were fond memories of his. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Jean White. He is survived by his wife, Pat Dutton of Thornton; granddaughter, Jolita Johnson and husband, Ricky Johnson; granddaughter, Amber Dutton; daughter-in-law, Lolito Dutton, all of Thornton, as well as the great grandchildren, Jonathan Tooke, Lilly Johnson and Cassie Johnson – who brought much joy and love to their Pappy and Granny. Also surviving are his brothers, Larry Dutton, Ronnie Dutton, and Jimmy Dutton, all of Texas, and a sister, Bonnie Dutton of Freeman, Canada; and various nieces and nephews in Canada and South Carolina; and his brother-in-law Bill Christmas of Waco.