Tahlequah, OK – Graveside services for Billy R. Whitley will be held at 10:00 am Thursday May 24, 2012 at the Blue Springs Cemetery with Bro. David Jones officiating. Viewing will be held Wednesday May 23, 2012 from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm. Interment will follow at the Blue Springs Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home in Tahlequah.

Billy Randolph Whitley the son of George Washington and Ruby Francis (Benton) Whitley was born April 14, 1927 in Porum, Oklahoma and departed this life on May 20, 2012 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 85 years, 1 month and 6 days.

Billy enjoyed life. He married Vera Nadine Payne on June 1, 1948. He loved farming, taking care of his horses and restoring old horse drawn wagons. He enjoyed playing cards with his friends at the Hulbert Senior Citizens Center. He enjoyed picking his guitar in his younger years. Billy loved his family and enjoyed family gatherings. He had a great sense of humor and was a big teaser. Billy proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1945 – 1947. Billy touched many lives and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Nadine Whitley and brother George Washington Whitley Jr.

Billy is survived by a loving family which includes his three children Diann Stacy of Hulbert, Donald Whitley of Arlington, TX, and Deborah Harvey and husband Charles of Hulbert; sister Mildred Bruce of Muskogee; 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Many nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives also survive him.