Billy Ray “Bill” Vehslage of Leonard Texas passed away on Thursday, July 15th at the age of 83 following an accident on the family land. While tragic and shocking, we are comforted with God’s grace in taking him while he was doing what he loved the most. Working on his land.

Bill was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, on his family’s farm on September 10th 1937, to father Walter Vehslage and Helen Vehslage. The family moved to Belton, Texas when Bill was 8 years old and later to Childress Texas. At Childress High School, Bill was an All Star football player where he played offensive and defensive tackle. He was selected to play in the annual East West Greenbelt Bowl featuring the best players in west Texas. In 1955, Bill attended Rice University on a football scholarship. There he played two seasons but injured his shoulder and transferred to Texas Tech to complete his degree. At Tech, Bill was an active member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity where he made lifelong friends. It was also at Tech that he met his beloved wife of 61 years Martha Sue “Marty”.

Upon his graduation from Texas Tech, Bill and Marty moved to Arcadia California where Bill had his own Tom’s Candy distributorship. There they had their daughter Shelly and son Scott. In 1966, Bill and Marty moved back to Richardson, Texas where he started a Utility Contracting business. For over 30 years, the Bill Vehslage Construction Company removed the old telephone Toll lines that spanned over many miles of this great State.

Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Leonard where he cared for the landscape for many years. Bill’s other passion was serving for the Child Advocacy CASA of Fannin County where he was awarded Advocate of the year in 2013.

He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 62 years Martha Sue “Marty” Vehslage, daughter Shelly and her husband Rick Allen, son Scott and his wife Dede Vehslage, and his grandchildren Ashley Rae and Jeremy Giroir, Brooks and Shelby Vehslage, Cole and Holly Vehslage and Anna Elizabeth Vehslage and great granddaughter Ellery Spencer Giroir. He is also survived by his sister Anita Smoot and his nieces Cindy and her husband Chris Riola, and Sue and her husband Robert Sims.

A memorial service honoring Bill’s life will be held on Saturday, July 24th 2021 at 2PM at the First United Methodist Church of Leonard, Texas 206 N Main St. All are invited to attend.

People wishing to honor Bill’s lifelong commitment to family and his community can make donations to the First United Methodist Church of Leonard, Texas and CASA (Child Advocacy) of Fannin County 112 W 5th Street, Bonham,TX 75418 or online at www.fanninccc.org.