Billye Gene Reynolds Hartman, 93, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026, in
Richardson, Texas, where she had resided for almost 60 years.
Billye was born July 18, 1932, at the family home in Bryson, Texas to Grace and Jack
Reynolds. She attended school in Bryson, and later graduated from North Texas State
University (now University of North Texas) in 1953. Her first position was as a County
Home Demonstration Agent in Young County. She then taught Home Economics in
Princeton and Farmersville, where her future father-in-law introduced her to Lewis Ray
“Rhode” Hartman, Jr. Billye and Rhode wed in August 1955, at the Bryson First United
Methodist Church, which was founded by her great-grandfather.
In the early 1970s, they moved to Richardson. Billye became certified as an elementary
school librarian. In that role, she completed a 45-year career in public education.
Becoming a school librarian was the perfect position for Billye who, as a teenager,
volunteered at the Bryson library. Always friendly and generous, her love of reading
offered her a natural connection to friends and neighbors, and especially neighborhood
children and her nieces and nephews, to whom she gave her favorite books.
Billye belonged to the Richardson Women’s Club and was a strong supporter of the
Farmersville Historical Society. The church has always been an important part of her
life, beginning in childhood at the Bryson United Methodist Church, and continuing as an adult at First United Methodist Church of Farmersville and First United Methodist Church Richardson.
Billye is survived—and much loved and missed—by her sisters, June Dunlap of
Graham, Texas and Judy Robertson of Houston; her nieces and nephew Teresa Austin
and her husband, Ski; Christopher Robertson and his wife, Stacey; and Dr. Courtney
Robertson and her husband, Dan Drasin; and great nieces and nephews Hayley Austin,
Grace Drasin, Joshua Drasin, Ella Grace Robertson, Rachel Robertson, Sophie
Robertson and Michael Ziverk.
On Saturday, April 18, visitation will be held at Hurst’s Fielder-Baker Funeral Home in
Farmersville at noon, followed by a service in the chapel at 1:00 p.m. Billye will be laid
to rest at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Farmersville, next to her husband, who passed away
in 2013.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Network of
Community Ministries, Richardson; Friends of the Richardson Public Library; or the
charity of your choice.
Condolences may be made to www.hurstfielderbaker.com, Hurst Fielder Baker, Inc.
107 N. Washington St., Farmersville, 972-782-6121.