Billy Mac Newton
Billy Mac Newton was an only child born to Aaron Newton and Wilma McCasland Newton on Nov. 17, 1935. He was born at the family home which was precisely on the Mills/Hamilton County line. Though there was some debate about his county of residence, Billy Mac’s birth record was filed in Hamilton, which would remain his county seat for his entire 88 years. In fact, he never resided more than three miles from his birthplace!
Billy left this earthly life peacefully, at his home, just the way he entered it, passing on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, at 88 years of age.
“Boss,” as his grandkids aptly called him, was a lifelong resident of the McGirk community where he ranched his entire life.
Billy Mac attended Star School for his whole educational career. He spent his early years working beside his parents, driving a tractor by the age of 6. Early on, he developed a love for the ranch and being on the land that would forever be such a part of him.
As he grew older, he enjoyed raising livestock and showing steers and turkeys. He had some big successes in this arena, having both grand and reserve champions in big shows such as Houston, Fort Worth and Odessa.
Through the years his children have marveled as stories of their dad’s stock show shenanigans have been relayed to them, believing these tales to either be greatly exaggerated or about some carefree stranger rather than the stoic, determined and serious man that they knew and loved!
Billy Mac wed the love of his life, Evelyn Landua, of the Shive community on June 11, 1955, at the mature ages of 18 and 16. Together, they raised five children.
Through the years they added more acreage to the family ranch and raised various livestock and crops. They had cattle, goats, sheep, turkeys and at one time a large pecan operation.
Billy Mac and Evelyn shared 68 ½ rich years working and growing together, spending very few nights apart in all that time. Evelyn will greatly miss her partner in life!
Besides always being there for his family, Billy Mac continued to enjoy earning a living working on the land. He also loved working with his hands and built things such as a pool table and trampoline for his children, a gooseneck trailer, camper and ski boat. He also loved riding his motorcycles.
Billy Mac served on the Star school board where his children attended school. He also was an elder at Goldthwaite Church of Christ for several years. Together, Billy Mac and Evelyn were known for regularly visiting the elderly in local nursing homes, lending a hand to and taking care of their neighbors and supporting mission work in Africa.
To his children, their dad was a man of action and few words. He could be a strong and stubborn man, but they always knew he loved them.
Though there was always work to be done, in the summertime, Billy Mac would take his pasty white legs, black dress socks, swim trunks, dirty straw work hat or bucket hat (depending on the decade), along with the family on short jaunts to the lake. At first, they tent camped, then graduated to a pick-up camper that he had built himself.
He enjoyed showing off the wooden motorboat that he crafted with his own hands, and later he relished pulling “the kids” while skiing.
He had a look that could instill fear, but he was always a great provider for his family and was as honest as the day is long. He ingrained in his children an unprecedented work ethic, a love for God, family and neighbors. He exemplified service to others, both locally and through his commitment to mission work.
Each of his 10 grandkids has a ceremonial photograph with Boss taking them on their first 4-wheeler ride, even though we all know Nonnie was the one that really gave the rides! This was fortunate for the grandkids because those 4-wheelers were where Boss used up most of his “9 lives!”
Through all of it, the only life that mattered was the 88 years of life he used to work and serve God and those he loved. We are happy he is once again whole and enjoying calling his cattle.
Much of Billy Mac’s living legacy are the loved ones he has left behind: his devoted wife, Evelyn; his children, Teresa and her husband Robert Copeland, Dennis Newton, Darryl Newton and his wife Diana, Sheryl Carothers and her husband Bill and Don Newton and his wife Renae; his grandchildren, Dr. Curtis Copeland and wife Emily, Dianne Copeland Jones and husband Matt, Trenton Carothers and wife Tara, Peyton Carothers Tenpas and husband Dan, Ethan Newton and wife McKenzie, Lori Newton, Jack Newton, Keaton Carothers Trompler and husband Ryan, Kaci Newton Shelton and husband Ryan and Lily Newton; his great-grandchildren, Evelynn Jones, Elizabeth Copeland, Audrey Copeland, Owen Jones, Merritt Tenpas, Oran Carothers, Hyatt Tenpas, Jett Tenpas and Sullivan Newton, along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation was Saturday, Feb. 3, at Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home, Goldthwaite. Services were Saturday, Feb. 3, at Goldthwaite Church of Christ with burial in Eastview Cemetery, Hamilton County. Arrangements by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home Goldthwaite.
The family would like to say a special thank you to Companion Senior Care and especially to Amelia Ruhmann for her loving and compassionate care that allowed Billy Mac to live his final days at home just as he wanted.
Memorials may be made in his honor to Cherokee Children’s Home.
