Billy Joe Cearley

Billy Joe Cearley was born April 17, 1934 in Temple to John Cearley and Ruby Estelle Adams Cearley.  He graduated from Temple High School. In his early years he served 4 years in the US Army then returned to Temple where he worked at the Wilson Art Plastics before going to work for Dow Chemical for 34 years. He retired from Dow in 1996, and moved back to his hometown area of Temple where he was born and raised.  Bill was known as BJ to most, Daddy to his girls, and Granddaddy to his precious granddaughters and ten lovely great-grandchildren.  He wasn’t blessed with boys in his life until the age of 76 when his great-grandsons came along.

He retired but never stopped working. He always had to be working on something. He farmed and helped his friends with anything he possibly could.  Most of all Bill loved to deer hunt. As much as he loved hunting he loved the time he spent at the lease with his longtime friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Helen Horne and Betty Symm and brother-in-law, Willie Joe Hopson.  Survivors include his wife, Karen Cearley of Moody, three daughters, Judy Leake and husband, Scott of San Antonio, Beverly Goodrum and husband, Tim Lindsey of Angleton, Cheryl Brown and husband, Robbie of Temple, six granddaughters, Beth McAda Kolenc and husband, Matt of North Carolina, Brandi Leake Bonvillian and husband, Kyle of League City, Chrystal Gartman Williams and husband, Ronny of Temple, Lindsey Woodard Robertson and husband, Brandon of Lake Jackson, Ashley Woodard of Houston, and Cyndi Leake Montoya and husband, Chris of San Antonio, three grandsons, Corey Brown of Georgetown, Chad Brown and wife, Ellie of Temple and Colton Brown and wife, Michelle of Georgetown and ten great-grandchildren, Jaxson Williams, Sofia Montoya, Liam Williams, Kynleigh Montoya, Zachary Robertson, Scarlett Williams, Maxwell Kolenc, Grayson Bonvillian, Jett Montoya and Beaux Bonvillian.  Also surviving is one sister, Johnnie Hopson of Bakersfield, CA and two brothers-in-law, Willie Ray Horne of San Augustine and Alton “Peewee” Symm of Temple as well as a large host of other family members and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org/sanantonio).Pallbearers are Darrell Wayne Brown, Robbie Brown, Reece Hohhertz, Ryder Hohhertz, Tim Lindsey and Terry Weatherford.  Honorary pallbearers are Scott Leake and Elton Lawson.