Billy Wade Avant

Billy Avant, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at home December 3, 2025.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 am on Friday, December 12, 2025, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel with a graveside service immediately following at Faulkenberry Cemetery.

Born on March 17, 1939, on Red Hill in Groesbeck, Texas, Billy was the eighth and youngest child of Wiley and Cevilla Roark Avant. To those closest to him, he was affectionately known as Bobo.

Billy was a proud member of the Groesbeck High School Class of 1957. After graduation, he began his career at Barron Brick Company. He later worked at Ferguson Chevrolet before retiring after many dedicated years from Reliable Life. As a young husband and father, he was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Groesbeck.

A soft-spoken man, Bill's greatest joy was his family. He was always there for them and deeply valued his friendships throughout his life. A true jack-of-all-trades, Bill had an incredible talent for building and fixing things and could fix or work on almost anything.

Billy is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Phyliss Avant. He leaves behind his cherished granddaughter, Brittany Vargas Morrow of Lorena, and his beloved great-grandchildren, Breelyn Jefferson and Cade Morrow of Lorena.

He is also survived by his loving nieces and nephews:

* Nieces: Honey (Wesley) Suttle, Tammy (Dan) Ramsey, Sharon Ward, Sandra (Mike) Sorensen, and Alice Hargraves. Jan McLaughlin, Cindy Brooks, and Jody Suhr.

* Nephews: Steve (Jackie) Avant, Robert Hargraves, and Johnny Lehrmann.

Billy was preceded in death by his daughter, Julie Vargas, and his parents, Wiley and Cevilla Avant. He was also preceded in death by all of his siblings: four sisters, Chresteen Uloth, Lois Hargraves, Jackie Crowson, and Dorothy Beck; and three brothers, Wiley Avant Jr., Lewis Avant, and James Avant.

Honorary pallbearers will include Jackie Foshee, Gary Vogel, Brandon Jefferson, Wesley Suttle, Dan Ramsey, and Corey Morrow.