Obit of Dickison, Billy-Ray - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 14 Dec 2008 Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Oakwood Cemetery--Chatsworth CA Dickison, Billy-Ray Billy-Ray Dickison went home to our Heavenly Father on Nov. 24, 2006. He was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on June 6, 1931. Billy Ray lived in Simi Valley with his wife and children for the last 41 years. He was a loving Dad to his six children, doting grandfather of seventeen grandchildren and beloved husband to his beautiful wife, Leone, of 47 years. Billy-Ray spent his first four years in Oklahoma near a Cherokee reservation, living in a small wood shack with a dirt floor, and he was proud of this. Times were tough in the 1930s. His mother, Carrie Lee, who recently went home to the Father, moved with Billy and little sister, Delores, to Salinas, Calif. There, he and his mother worked picking lettuce as little sister, Delores, waited in the car, protected by the family watchdog. Billy-Ray joined the U.S. Navy in 1948 at the age of 17. A very handsome lad, he was, pursued by scads of women, including actresses with the names Rita H., Marilyn M., and Elizabeth T. Dad had a good sense of humor, loving to hear or tell a good joke. He served upon the U.S. Naval ship the USS Manatee and was chosen by his superior officers to attend Annapolis Naval Academy. Returning to civilian life, Billy became a firefighter for the City of Burbank Fire Department and worked through the ranks up to the level of engineer. While maintaining his fireman career, he founded and ministered over a church in the San Fernando Valley during the 1960s. With a giving and caring heart, Billy also did street missionary services and other good works in Los Angeles and surrounding communities, bringing numerous people to know the Lord. He moved his young family to Simi Valley in 1965, eventually retiring from the Burbank Fire Department to become an entrepreneur in the automotive services industry. Due to hard economic times, he returned to civil service, working for the MTA, reaching the level of division supervisor. Billy again retired and started investing in the real estate market. Billy-Ray Dickison had a plethora of challenges and unique experiences along life's path and many successes to be remembered. His highest and most triumphant achievement was that of coming into the knowledge of God, and teaching his children early on about the Lord, as well as many others. He was a loving Dad to his incredibly handsome and intelligent sons, Darius-Christian and Timothy-David; and to his stunningly beautiful, sweet, and smart daughters, Dawn-Christina, Karen-DeRene, Sharon-Lee, and Esther-Elizabeth; continuously guiding them to seek the Lord in all things. A devoted grandfather, he loved spending time with his gorgeous and bright grandchildren, Trisha, Johnathan, Rachel, Ashley, Jared, Felicia, Jake, Cole, Lindsey, Danica, Tyler, Jacob, Trevor, Priscilla, Ethan, Chelsea, and Luke, savoring the special moments with them. He loved the good fight, fearlessly speaking out and taking action whenever or wherever he encountered justice. Our dad was a very inspirational and talented poet. Billy-Ray was an extremely good man and is a very great soul. A lover of God and a faithful soldier of the light, Billy-Ray Dickison is desperately missed by all his family and friends. Until we are together again, We love you, Dad, Billy-Ray Dickison! There will be a time of viewing from 10 to 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 30, with a service to begin at 11 a.m., at Crossroads Chapel, 1925 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. A burial procession will follow to Oakwood Cemetery in Chatsworth. There will be a gathering in Moorpark afterwards. For more information about the services, please call 805- 581-4701. Assisting the family with arrangements is Rose Family Funeral Home, Simi Valley. Published in the Ventura County Star on 11/29/2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html