Billy Travis Scott

Billy Travis Scott, born on October 9, 1929, in Texas, graciously departed this life on March 16, 2025, at the age of 95. He lived a life filled with love, family, and cherished memories, leaving behind a legacy that will continue through his descendants. Visitation will be held on March 20, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors located at 201 N Bosque St, Whitney, TX 76692. The funeral service will take place the following day, March 21, 2025, at 2:00 PM, also at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors officiating the service are Pastor Greg Johnson and Billy Tom Callaway. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Heath Cemetery, starting at 3:00 PM, located East on HCR 1145 in Whitney, TX 76692.

Billy is survived by his loving children, Debbie Chambless, Vickie Hancock and her husband Gary, and Carolyn Taylor and her husband Jody. His devotion to his family extended to his ten grandchildren, each of whom held a special place in his heart: Michael Chambless and his wife Sarah, Monica Wood and her husband Jeremy, Heather Ellis and her husband Paul, Ryan Hancock and his wife Rachel, Travis Young, Kimberley O'Donnell, Leslie Taylor, Heath Young and his wife Sara, Matt Taylor, and Clint Young and his wife Jennifer. He was also blessed with 14 great-grandchildren: Jackson and Addie Wood, Cora and Will Chambless, Mattie Max and Bobby Ellis, Trent Young, Korbin Taylor, Hannah and Emma O'Donnell, Kalel, Levi and Walker Young; and very special nephews Kaye and Charles Scott.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jean, two brothers, J.W. and A.L. Scott, and his son-in-law Ronnie Chambless. The loss of these beloved family members is felt deeply, yet their memories remain intertwined in the hearts of those who loved him.

Memorials may be made to Heath Cemetery or Towash Baptist Church.

Billy was born in October of 1929 just days after the beginning of the Great Depression. For most folks that was a very hard time but you would never know it from the happy memories he had growing up. Many of his “long stories”, as he called them, were about those times. Billy really enjoyed his childhood – riding his horse all over the countryside, going hunting at night, helping around the farm, running around with the other country kids and going to town on Friday and Saturday nights to see a movie, go roller skating and occasionally, bowling.

Billy met the love of his life, Jean McCullough, at a baseball game. It was love at first sight. When they married they agreed he would make the living and Jean would take care of the house and any kids they had. And that’s exactly what they did - it was an equal partnership. After the birth of their second daughter, Billy decided that he needed something more stable than farming in order to provide for his family. The family moved to Cleburne in 1956 and Billy went to work for Santa Fe Railroad. Years later when he was laid off from the railroad, he took a job with Bell Helicopter and worked there until his retirement in 1993. It was then that they built their home on the old home place and he returned to live out his life in Hill County. Billy loved living on the farm – it was his earthly paradise. He loved tending to his cows, plowing the fields, mending fences – there was a never ending list of things to do on the farm. He said “farming is a lot of fun when you are not trying to make a living doing it.”

Billy could fix anything. His favorite pastime was “piddling” in his workshop. There was always something to work on or something to invent. Some of his creations were unusual, but always functional. Billy loved to make pocket knives and belt buckles and many members of the family and dear friends have those handcrafted items. He was a dumpster diver before that was popular. As the saying goes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Whether it was a boat with a hole in it or a motorcycle that wouldn’t run, Billy could fix it.

The love Billy had for Jean was never more evident than when Jean was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He took care of her 24/7 until he absolutely couldn’t do it anymore. After Jean went to the nursing home, Billy went every day to stay with her. They were married for 67 years.

Billy didn’t really talk a lot about his faith, he just lived it. The old adage “actions speak louder than words” pretty much describes his approach to religion. When you leave this earth, the only thing you take with you is your character. Billy had plenty of that. He was loving, honest, loyal, resilient, creative, generous with his time and money, intelligent and always had a positive attitude. We think God will say “well done, my good and faithful servant”.