Freestone County, Texas Obituaries Billie Fails (Died April 12, 2011) Billie Fails A memorial service for Mr. Billie Fred Fails was held at 2 pm on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the Union Cemetery Chapel near Freestone. Mr. Fails passed away at Groesbeck Nursing Facility on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 after a long battle with cancer. He was born December 7, 1940 and raised in Freestone County. He attended Sallie Mounger Elementary School in Teague until the death of his Father, Fred Fails, caused him to start work early and care for his Mother, Bettie Fails and his siblings, Annie, Edna, Marie and Betty. He married Goldie Sue Lanier in 1971 in Pasadena, Texas. They later moved their family back to Teague where he worked as a heavy equipment operator for many years at Young Brothers Construction in Mexia, and for Mr. Randy Turner at Randy Turner Services in Teague. Mr. Fails loved his family and worked hard to provide for them. He was a big man, but soft spoken and gentle. He loved to work, fish, watch the western channel and chew tobacco. He was incredibly smart and he would make you laugh when you least expected it. He is survived by his wife, Goldie Sue and his children, William V. Fails of Donie, Julie Rebuck of Donie, Texas and her husband George, Mitzie Prince of Tomball, Tx. and her husband Darrell and Leonard Lanier of Fairfield, and one sister, Betty Jane Carpenter of Willis, Tx. His grandchildren, Jennifer Lanier, Stephanie Lanier, Tanya Lanier, Wallace Lanier, Jami Lanier, George Lanier, Virginia Lanier, Nina Lanier, Timothy Lanier, Hanna Lanier, McCalla Lanier and Ethan Prince. He has numerous great-grandchildren and many people who considered him a Father, Grand-Father and friend. It is impossible to list them all. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Bettie Fails, his son, Portor Lanier and his siblings, Annie Ellett, Edna Floyd, J.D. Fails and Marie Richardson. Flowers may be sent to Bowers Funeral Home in Teague or delivered to the Union Cemetery Chapel. =================================================== The Fairfield Recorder - April 21, 2011 edition BILLIE FRED FAILS Memorial services were held Saturday at Union Cemetery Chapel near Freestone for Billie Fred Fails, 70, of Freestone county who died April 12 at Groesbeck Nursing Facility after a long battle with cancer. Interment followed at Union Cemetery. Mr. Fails was born December 7, 1940 in Freestone county to Fred and Bettie Fails. He attended Sallie Mounger elementary school in Teague until the death of his father which caused him to start work early to care for his mother and siblings. In 1971, while living in Pasadena, Mr. Fails married Goldie Sue Lanier. After moving his family to Teague, he worked as a heavy equipment operator for Young Brothers Construction of Mexia and Randy Turner Services of Teague. Mr. Fails enjoyed work, fishing, watching the western channel and chewing tobacco. He loved his family and worked hard to provide for them. Mr. Fails was preceded in death by his parents; son Porter Lanier; and siblings Annie Ellett, Edna Floyd, J.D. Fails and Marie Richardson. He is survived by his wife Goldie Sue; children William V. Fails of Donie, Julie Rebuck and husband George of Donie, Mitzie Prince and husband Darrell of Tomball, and Leonard Lanier of Fairfield; Sister Betty Jane Carpenter of Willis; grandchildren Jennifer Lanier, Stephanie Lanier, Timothy Lanier, Hanna Lanier, McCalla Lanier and Ethan Prince; numerous greatgrandchildren; and many people who consider him a father, grand- father and friend. Services were led by family members. Making arrangements was Bowers Funeral Home of Teague.