Bownds

GIDDINGS—Funeral services for William Murrell “Billy” Bownds, 84 of Lexington are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, at Holy Family Catholic Church with Father Joy Adimakkeel officiating.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. and on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 7 to 8a.m. at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings. The family will be present Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. and a rosary will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m.

William Murrell “Billy” Bownds was born Sept. 5, 1937, in Taylor to William Calvin Bownds and Valrie (Sorenson) Bownds.

Billy married the love of his life, Gloria Jean Gratzek, on June 18, 1960, at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Houston. He and Gloria made their home in Houston for a while before moving to Lexington.

Billy was a founding member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lexington. Billy served as a mentor for the students teaching them the Dale Carnegie Methods. He was a very active person late into his life where he continued to train and show cuttings horses until his body just wouldn’t let him any more at the age of 82. He was a member of the American Cutting Horse Association, the National Cutting Horse Association, and the American Quarter Horse Association.

Billy also enjoyed going on vacations with the Austin Road Riders (a motorcycle club) and playing with is band “Billy Bownds and the Night Hawks.”

Whenever Billy wasn’t enjoying one of his other pastimes, he was a true outdoorsman, he always watched the sunrise, worked with his animals, and enjoyed watching the sunsets.

If you knew Billy you knew that he had a famous saying, “In life if you have a good wife, a good horse, a good truck, and good dogs, you are doing pretty well.”

Billy passed away the morning of Saturday, Jan. 22, at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Valrie Bownds, and two great-grandchildren, Braxton Wayne Bownds and Carter Smith.

Billy is survived by his wife, Gloria Jean Bownds of Lexington; three sons, William M. Bownds Jr. and significant other Linda Sageser of Georgetown, Darrell and Olga Bownds of Round Rock, and Randall and Dewanna Bownds of Lexington; 11 grandchildren, Jonathan and Courtnee Bownds of Elgin, Laura and Eric Smith of Leander, Sarah and Jeremiah Bridges of Leander, Nicholas and Emilie Bownds of Elgin, Shayne and Alex Keay of Leander, Hayden Bownds of California, Holden Bownds of San Marcos, Kelly and Jose Acevedo of Manor, Spencer and Sarah Bownds of Rockdale, Cortland and Morgan Bownds of Lexington, and Laine Bownds and significant other Twyla Osborne of Lexington; sister-in-law, Dolores Gratzek of Sealy; as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jonathan Bownds, Nicholas Bownds, Hayden Bownds, Holden, Bownds, Spencer Bownds, Cortland Bownds, and Laine Bownds.

Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Sherrill, Damon Burlin, Gary Clopton, and Bill Woodward.

Memorials may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, Texas Tornados Mounted Drill Team, Texas Stars 4-H Equestrian Drill Team, or the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.