Billy J. Beene

Billy J. Beene was born June 15, 1934, and died November 4, 2023, at the age of 89. He was born in Mount Vernon, Arkansas, to Tommie and Elsie (Baker) Beene. He attended Mount Vernon High School and graduated with the class of 1952. He was hired in 1953 at Continental Steel Mill, where he worked as a laborer for 34 years, before retiring in 1986. He met Ella Mae Canada and they were married on July 13, 1973, and together they celebrated 50 wonderful and loving years together, in Kokomo, Indiana. He was a cowboy at heart, from birth to death, and loved dressing up in his hats, boots, and western wear. He loved watching and recording classic western movies and had built quite the collection. He was a movie buff; Strother Martin was his favorite actor. He was an avid outdoorsman and naturalist and enjoyed camping, fishing, riding ATV's and shooting guns. He had a deep love and great ear for music. He loved listening to and recording Bluegrass Gospel (his favorite genre) and enjoyed going to many concert venues. He loved country line dancing and taught it in Kokomo for 18 years. He formed the first dance club in Kokomo, called the Kokomo Kikkers, which were televised on the national TV show called, The White Horse Dance Club. He was also an avid coin and stamp collector. What he loved most of all, though, was playing games with family and friends. He was the best Moon Shooter playing Dominoes. He was a faithful Christian servant and active member of his home church, Hillside Missionary Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir. He also attended the Kokomo Great Banquet and gained a community of brothers and sisters in Christ. Pastors Darrell Dumas, Dave Coffman, and Bill Fields were special brothers and friends to him.

Billy is survived by his beloved wife, Ella Mae (Canada) Beene; sister, Terry Mullins of Vilonia, Arkansas; brother, Mark (Sheila) Beene of Mount Vernon, Arkansas; sister-in-law, Sharon Beene of Enola, Arkansas. He was a wonderful and loving father to his children; Jeffery Beene, Tracy Vickers, Eric & Sherie Beene, Wanda Hernandez, Glenda Myers, Jesse & Jenny Norfleet, and Larry & Stephanie Norfleet; 24 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, with the newest, Miles Corman, born August, 11, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tommie & Elsie (Baker) Beene; brother, Larry and his first wife, JoAnn Beene; brother-in-law, Morris Mullins; son, Tony Beene; nephew, Matthew Beene; father and mother-in-law, Sam & Lela Canada; brother-in-law, Glenn Canada; brother and sister-in-law, Rue & Iva Baugh; and grandson, Aaron Bigler.

A public visitation for Billy will be held Thursday, November 9, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Hillside Missionary Baptist Church, 12080 W. 100 N., Kokomo, Indiana 46901. A funeral service will be the next morning, Friday, November 10, 2023 at 11:00 AM, also at the church.

Contributions in Billy's memory may be made to Hillside Missionary Baptist Church, PO Box 215, Russiaville, Indiana, 46979.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ellersmortuarywebster.com for the Beene family.