Billy Ray Atkinson left his earthly family and entered his new Heavenly home November 2, 2024, in Norman, Oklahoma, at the age of 92 years 3 days. Graveside services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the Washington Cemetery, entrusted to the care of Wadley’s Funeral Service.
Billy was born October 30, 1932, in Portales, New Mexico. He was the first of four children born to Lester and Hazel (Cox) Atkinson. He was raised in McClain County, graduating from Washington High School in 1950.
Bill married Ola Mae Madden in 1952, and together they began sharecropping his dad’s land. His determination to succeed brought them through the years of drought, with poor crops, no cattle market and little pasture. To provide for the family, which included three daughters, Billy started working nights for the Santa Fe Railroad and farming during the day. The family was selected as the WKY-TV Farm Family of the Month in July of 1973.
Billy was a hard-working man with the gift of being able to fix anything (and we mean anything)! He also had a vision for starting businesses that helped further the success of the farm, such as building and opening a feed and seed company, a landfill, a sanitation business, and the Ponderosa Dairy along with his girls. No matter how many businesses Billy had an interest in, his main passion was farming his land and caring for his cattle. You could always find him on a tractor or any other kind of farm equipment doing what he did best.
Billy took pride in looking out his back door over the land that he had farmed and cared for since losing his dad so early in life. When Billy wasn’t working hard outdoors in his later years, you could find him at Rubys enjoying good food and company with his friends.
Over the last fifteen years, ‘PaPa’ proudly shared his stories and love of the farm with his grandchildren as they learned to drive, fish, shoot, weld, and play in the creek. These visits always involved sharing his favorite Butter Pecan ice cream together. Billy will always be remembered along with the good times he shared with family on the farm.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Hazel Atkinson; his brothers, Hollis “Hobby” Atkinson and Earl “Wayne” Atkinson; his sister, Helen “Louise” Suter; and his wife, Ola Mae Atkinson.
Survivors include his daughters, Susan Reed and husband, Mike, Darla Boyd and Tijuana Rains and family; grandchildren, Darcey Cottrell and husband, Casey, Lindsey Jackson and Will Hammerle, Morgan Morrissey and husband, Seth, Dustin Boyd and Taylor Lynn, Mika Gray and husband, Zach, and Asia Willingham and husband, Zach; great-grandchildren, Taryn Cottrell, Casyn Cottrell, Tenley Jackson, Ellis Morrissey, Erin Gray, Elin Gray, Beck Willingham and Zane Willingham; sister-in-law, Lena Atkinson and her family, Carmella Tate and Wynette Abercrombie; sister-in-law, Judy Avery; nephew, Corey McAlister and wife, April, and their children, Bailey and Allie; special cousins, Ruth Sikes and AJ Cline; and numerous other nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.