Billy Dean Cunningham

Bill was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 27, 1956 and was the son of the late Rev. Ray Lee Cunningham and the late Olene Frances Coffman Cunningham. As the son of a Baptist minister, he grew up in many locations and has friends from Wells, O'Donnell, Big Spring, Coahoma and Lubbock, Texas. He grew up in the cotton fields of the Texas Plains and West Texas where his love for agriculture began. He graduated from Coahoma High School and attended Odessa College for Business and Agriculture.

Bill married the love of his life, Cheryl Ann Cavin in Lubbock, Texas, on January 6, 1979, officiated by Rev. Ray Cunningham. It was true love at first sight after their blind date on July 3, 1978, at that moment they knew they were meant to be together for a lifetime. They lived in Lubbock until moving to Odessa in 1980. “Daddy” was the special name he loved to hear from his two precious daughters, Angela Suzanne Cunningham Disley and husband, Christopher “Chris”, of Odessa and Ashlee Lane Cunningham Bates and husband, Phillip, of Round Rock. Becoming “Papa” to his five grandchildren, Kaylee Disley Racine of Massachusetts, Michael Alexander Disley of Massachusetts, Caden Christopher Disley and Cole Cunningham Disley of Odessa and Rhett Asher Bates of Round Rock, was his greatest blessing.

He will be remembered by many names such as “Mr. Bill”, “William”, “Uncle Bill”, “Buddy” and his favorite “Papa”. However, those who knew him will remember his big heart, gentle spirit and infectious laugh. Salvation was his solid rock and church activities like Vacation Bible School led to his baptism at a young age at Wells Baptist Church in Wells, Texas by his father. He would always lend a helping hand to those who were having difficult times. He came to Odessa to work in the oilfield supply industry. He worked for the City of Odessa, Stewart and Stevenson, Freightliner and Extreme Hot Shot. As retirement was approaching, he worked for ECISD as a bus driver for a very short time.

Farming was dear to his heart his whole life. He loved to drive John Deere tractors and he collected them, too. Every anniversary was spent with family and friends at the Sandhills Rodeo. if you stopped by the house you better be ready to watch a rodeo, cattle auction or a western movie on television. He always liked to fish, trot lining with friends and just sharing family time at the lake. He cherished playing games such as 42, dominos, Yahtzee or putting jigsaw puzzles together with the little guys at the house.

Along with his wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandsons, Bill is survived by four sisters, Betty Hyde and husband, Tom, of Hayneville, Alabama, Patty Cox and husband, Glen, of Prattville, Alabama, Barbara Peterson and husband, Jack, of Newark, Texas, and Delphina Ortiz and husband, Fred, of Eunice, New Mexico; brother-in-law, Lane Cavin and wife, Cyndi, of Wright City, Missouri, and sister-in-law, Vicki Leach and husband, Ron, of Lubbock, Texas. He has 11 nieces and nephews; multiple great nieces and nephews; and multiple cousins. Along with his parents he is preceded in death by his father-in-law, Emmitt H. Cavin and mother-in-law, Bessie Lee Cavin; brother, Kelly Stewart; and sister-in-law, Sandy Stewart.

Pallbearers are Rhea Cooper, Temple, Texas; Ken Harlan, Lubbock, Texas; Steve Payne, O'Donnell, Texas; Candel Quintana, Gardendale, Texas; J.D. Taylor, Odessa Texas; and Jeff Wilson, Big Spring, Texas. Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Second Baptist Church: Dan Brock, Wayne Craighead, Ernie Eaton, and Jerry Robinson.

A virtual memorial praise service, arranged by the staff of Second Baptist Church, will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 6:30 pm online at https://www.facebook.com/2BCodessa/posts/3595595177197712 A live memorial with limited seating and social distancing will be respected at Second Baptist Church located at 701 East 17th Street, Odessa, Texas. Masks are required, if you are attending the live memorial.

The family of Bill Cunningham wants to thank each and every one of our family and friends for your love and support through Bill’s illness. We would also like to thank the following people for the support given to our family: our family physician, Dr. Lawrence Voesack and staff; Dr. Vic Gil; and the following staff from Medical Center Hospital: Dr. Alexander Bastidas Palacios, Candle Wright and Sarah Newell (Registered Nurses), Bobby Wright (Respiratory Therapist) and Lindsey Duncan.(Caseworker).

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in honor of Bill Cunningham to ECISD Agriculture Department, P O Box 3912, Odessa, Texas, 79760; Central Christian School, Att: Mrs. Simpson, 4810 Cypress, Odessa, Texas, 79764; Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas, www.rmhc-ctx.org, Austin, Texas; Kingdom Heights Christian School, www.covenantcommunityschools.org, Round Rock, Texas; Second Baptist Church, 701 E, 17th Street, Odessa, Texas or a church/charity of your choice.