Billie Lois Wood Ficke was born in Copeville, Texas, on May 22, 1927 to parents William Gaston Wood, Sr. and Lois Craft Wood. Billie passed away peacefully on July 26, 2018. She attended Copeville Elementary School before moving to Dallas where she and her family lived on the corner of Welborn and Brown streets in Oak Lawn. Billie Lois attended and graduated from Crozier Tech High School, where she was voted “Most Beautiful” in her graduating class of 1944.
Billie worked as a bank teller at the bank in Highland Park Village where she met Naval Lt. Bev C. Ficke. They were married on August 6, 1949 in Bonham, Texas.
Billie raised three boys: Brad, Bruce & Brian. Mom was always a great listener and she had a keen ability to look thru the conversation and see the truth. Mom was also not shy about expressing her opinions, a trait that she clearly passed on to her boys.
Mom was a great cook, nurse, volunteer, mediator, consoler and observer. Mom & Dad were co-founders of the Dallas Ski Club and traveled and skied all over the world. They were fixtures at the Red Lion Inn in Vail, as well as the Red Onion in Aspen. They also loved music and could dance for hours. Mom also enjoyed playing bridge with her monthly bridge club. Mom or “Mimi” as she became known, adored her five grandchildren and rarely missed a sporting event, recital, school or church play.
Mom cooked breakfast every morning for her family and on Fridays she always cooked blueberry pancakes and fried up a pound or two of bacon. There were many days when her arthritis slowed her down, but she always put family first.
Billie is predeceased by her husband of 64 years, her parents, her brother William Gaston Wood, Jr. and her nephew, Thomas William Wood. Billie is survived by her three sons, Brad, Bruce (Sheryl), Brian (Leslie), her five grandchildren, Brooks (Sarah), Blake, Diane (Dodge), David & Kate and her great grandchild, Savannah Ficke.
We would like to thank Carol and the wonderful folks at The Tradition for their love and care of “Miss Billie”. And a special thank you to the hospice team at All Star Hospice….thank you for making her last days so comfortable
A private family burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on July 28, 2018 at Thompson Cemetery in Copeville, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Clayton Dabney for Kids with Cancer, www.claytondabney.org , 6500 Greenville Avenue, Suite 342, Dallas, Texas 75206.