Billie Mack Richardson

A "Celebration of Life" will be held for Billie Mack Richardson on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 12:00 - 2:00 p. m.at the First Methodist Church of Groesbeck's MAC Building, (212 W. Navasota St., Groesbeck, TX.)

Heaven gained a loyal, die-hard Mart High School Panther and University of Texas life-long Texas Longhorn fan (Hook 'em Homs!) when Billie Mack (Bill) entered his best life, his Heavenly Home, August 12, 2025, at his beloved Turkey Creek Ranch, surrounded by loved ones!

Many years ago, Bill and Shirley made the decision to honor each other's lives by hosting a fun, upbeat Celebration of life, instead of sad funerals. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, they respectfully request that you honor Bill's life through donations to First Methodist Church Groesbeck (203 W. State St., Groesbeck, TX 76642), La Salle Cemetery Association (P. O. Box 215, Groesbeck, TX 76642) or Mart High School Ex-Students Association (218 N. Emmerson St., Mart, TX 76664.)

Billie Mack was born November 21, 1946, to Audley and Marvin Richardson, in Groesbeck. He has always been called "BillieMack" - one word, one syllable - by family and his beloved MHS Class of '65. He is fondly called "Bill" by all others, among other nicknames.

Bill proudly graduated from the University of Texas in 1970, through a five-year graduate program for the College of Architecture with a double major in architecture and interior design. He is a member of every organization imaginable related to architecture and interior design. Bill was adamant that Shirley remembered to pay his dues to each organization, each year, once he found out he could get a huge discount for his annual dues after retirement.

You see, family and closest friends know Bill best by the little phrase Shirley used with them every time Bill was considered a "tight wad" or didn't want to hire anyone to do a job (hard labor) that he could do himself. She simply told those who worried that he was working too hard, "Bill is NOT broke, he is CHEAP!" Just ask any close friends or relatives if you have any doubts.

BLGY Architects, Inc., was the firm Bill dedicated his career to, starting out as a draftsman, all the way to President and Principal Architect, mostly designing public schools. Bill and the BLGY team had a life-long relationship that will live on in perpetuity due to numerous schools he renovated, designed, etc., all over Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country.

Many wonderful accolades can be listed for Bill; he gave everything 100% and was the ultimate perfectionist! One of his proudest accomplishments was becoming the first president and founder of the Round Rock ISD Educational Foundation. A second proud career accomplishment was being honored with the Bob Landis Award of Excellence from his beloved BLGY, named after one of the founding partners of BLGY, Inc.

To this day, we hope and pray, Bill was the only UT Architectural student that rode through the entire College of Architecture disguised, on his dirt bike, as his fellow architectural students opened the front and back doors for his masterful ride! We also hope and pray no one in Mart ever figured out who the midnight trumpeter was, riding a motorcycle, while playing "Charge!" on his trumpet. Remember, people didn't have a/c back then, times were different then, so people slept with their windows open. James Lee Smith helped Billie Mack decide which houses should be "blessed" by "hearing" the mysterious trumpeter.

Bill proudly followed in his father, Marvin's footsteps, serving in the US Army Airborne Division for six years, Company A, First Battalion, The USAMEDTC. In a Company of 380 trainees, Bill earned an achievement score of 926 points out of a possible, 1000, points. Of course, he was HIGHLY disappointed in himself for not scoring a perfect 1000. He was trained as a medical corpsman, earned the Distinguished Parachutist Badge (due to 52 PERFECT jumps from a military airplane), and The Sharpshooter Badge (Rifle M-16). Too bad they didn't allow Bill to use his AR 15, with which he was an Expert Sharpshooter, especially killing feral hogs at Turkey Creek Ranch, while Shirley-shined the “light of truth" on them, as they rode the range every evening.

Serving as President of the La Salle Cemetery Association for many years was also a very special honor to Bill! He loved working with fellow officers Bubba McDonald, Nancy Hughes, Diana Bradley, and Shirley - yes, an "outsider." Shirley, served as Secretary because no one would take the job.

After many years of hard work, including weekend work trips to Groesbeck, Bill was able to purchase his beloved McBay, Burleson, Richardson land. Bill and Shirley purchased an additional 50 acres that was contingent to his land, where Bill designed their much-loved and fun Turkey Creek Ranch-home.

When Shirley was Commissioner of Education, Bill had to make a huge decision, one that ended up making him spend a little money, but most believe changed his life: Governor Perry told Bill if he was going to ride motorcycles with the Comish and Governor, he would have to ride a Harley, like them, or keep riding his Sususki at the back, behind the security team. Governor Perry rode a Harley Fat Boy, Shirley rode a Heritage Softail Classic, 100th Anniversary Harley. Bill purchased a beautiful black, Ultra Glide Harley, that he enjoyed riding for many years.

Bill and Shirley were blessed to enjoy 21 years together, riding Harleys, camping with the Crazy Eight (Gary/Linda Barker, Jerald/Ruth Meggs, Steve/Tana Nance) in their RVs, and attending the Annual Cowboy Symposium in Ruidosa. The trips to Europe and Scotland with Gary and Linda were clearly the highlights of their international travel.

As the debilitating Alzheimer's Disease progressed, Bill and Shirley were blessed to partner with an amazing Hospice Team through Accent Care in Groesbeck! They became family, especially Sindra, Tammie, Donna, Charlene, Jamie, and Susan. To compliment and enhance Bill's care for the past 2 years, the amazing, loving, kind, loyal team of Companion Caretakers led by Ken and Nell Piggee made Bill's transition into Heaven sweet, pain free, and compassionate. Ken, Nell, Tammie, Sam, Darlene, Stella, and Ramona also became a second family for Bill, Shirley, Marla, and Brandy. There are no words strong enough to express our appreciation, gratitude, love, and thanks to these two teams of excellent caretakers, who worked together, in tandem, for so long.

Bill is very proud of his daughter, Marla (our RN with her Master's Degree), son-in-law, Nathan Barrow (5th grade teacher in RRISD), granddaughter Crislyn (red headed like her Nanny, Cole, and Conner; she, too, loves cats); his bonus daughter Brandy (rancher, horse lover, super star), son-in-law, Aaron Anzaldua (rancher, roper extraordinaire and do-it-all fixer for Shirley's long "to do" list of things needed done at Turkey Creek Ranch on weekends, which made Bill happy because Aaron is just like Bill, not broke, always saving Bill money); two beautiful, sweet granddaughters Kaitlyn and Savannah who loved their sweet Poppa; five bonus grandsons Cole (US Navy), Conner, Zachary, Trey (our future veterinarian), Dane; adopted son and daughter Dale and Lynn Zeman (Bill and Shirley's "go to for everything" at Turkey Creek Ranch for the last ten years). Of course, Bill loved his 18 Longhorns (they are gorgeous, all named, and very tame), and his beloved cat, "Dez Bryant," gifted to us when Dez was 4 years old by Marla and Nathan; Dez is now 15 years old.

A Celebration of Life is being planned in the near future, depending on when grandson Cole will be coming home for leave before reporting to the US Naval Amphibious Base in San Diego, California. As soon as the date is scheduled, Kent will post on the Groesbeck Funeral Home web site.

Thank you for the sweet cards, texts, emails, calls, and acts of kindness. Right now, we do not need anything but prayers. Don't you wonder who will be able to get to the front of the line to welcome Billie Mack/Bill, after God has let him "pass GO:" Audley, Marvin, Edna, Momma/Poppa McBay, Grandma/Grandpa Richardson, Lillan/Ernest/Sandra, all his aunts, uncles, cousins; Nana, Joey, Michele, David Byrd, Mac/Doris Bonnet, and a host of others???

God bless!