Billie Jean Akers

Billie Jean Akers, age 92, a former resident of this community, peacefully passed from this life into her Heavenly home, in the early morning hours of Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Oklahoma City. A funeral service was held Jan. 27 at the Comanche Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor John Johnson officiating. Interment followed at Fairlawn Cemetery, under the direction of Comanche Funeral Home.

Billie was born Dec. 24, 1930, in Cement, to Leonard and Alva (Carter) Smith. She married the love of her life, John Akers, on Jan. 19, 1953. They lived in the Comanche area, specifically the Corum community, the majority of their lives except for short periods when John served in the US Army (Killeen, Texas) and worked in the oil and gas industry (Monahans, Texas).

She grew up on a farm and being the oldest of five children, she started helping on the farm at a very young age. She loved working on the farm and was thrilled to return to farm life after she and John moved back to Comanche. Billie always said, “Farm life is the best life!” She did not work outside of the home and family farm while her daughters were growing up, which allowed her to be involved in their activities and gave them the best childhood memories.

Billie loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening, hunting, and fishing. She was creative and enjoyed sewing and doing crafts. Her grandchildren were able to spend a great deal of their summers on the farm and she took pride in teaching them how to hunt, fish, and drive.

Survivors include her two daughters: Debbie Cottrell, Temple, Texas and Connie Wall and husband Michael, Tuttle; two brothers, Jim Smith, Odessa, Texas and Gary Smith, Duncan; and one sister, Shirley Hughes and husband Charlie, Comanche. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Jonathan Weekley and wife Nikki, Oklahoma City and Baron Cottrell and wife Nikki, Temple, Texas; and four great-grandchildren, Evan and Avery Weekley and Rhett and Ryker Cottrell. Billie loved family and friends and is survived by many other extended family members.

Billie was preceded in death by her husband, John; one sister, Mary Hays; one brother-in-law, Carl “Cotton” Hays, and two sisters-in-law, Sharon Smith, and Elaine Smith.

Online condolences may be sent to comanchefh@pldi.net