Billie Gruben

BILLIE JO (ESSARY) GRUBEN, 85, of Hamlin, passed away Sunday, April 17, 2016, at an Abilene Hospital. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at the First Assembly of God in Hamlin, with burial taking place at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at the Terry County Cemetery in Brownfield. Visitation will be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at Adams-Foster-Ray Funeral Home.

Born December 4, 1930, in Fisher County, Texas, Billie was the daughter of Willie Lee and Grace Elizabeth (Huddleston) Essary. She married C.R. Gruben on June 28, 1947, at the First Assembly of God in Hamlin, and in 1948 the couple moved to Brownfield and started their family. Billie worked at the Brownfield Nursing Home for many years, and graduated from South Plains College in 1984. The couple returned to Hamlin in 1988, where Billie worked as a dietician at the Hamlin Memorial Hospital until her retirement in 1995. In her spare time, Billie enjoyed collecting dolls, gardening, canning, and taking care of her dogs. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Billie was an Ombudsman, and a member of the First Assembly of God in Hamlin.

Billie is survived by her husband of sixty-eight years, C.R. Gruben; one son, Carl Gruben and wife, Jan, of Brownwood; one daughter, JoAnna Dawson and husband, Gary, of Brownfield; two brothers, Dan Essary of Hamlin, and John Essary of Colorado; three sisters, Jewel Kelly of Baird, Olivia Ann Smith of New Mexico, and Carolyn Essary of Oklahoma; eighteen grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Grace Essary; two sons, Claudie Ray Gruben, Jr., and Epkie Lee Gruben; one daughter, Sherry Kay Gruben; four brothers, Dale Essary, Johnny Essary, Mervin Essary, and Robert Essary; one sister, Montella Tiki Hilburn; and four grandchildren, Michelle Gruben, Russell Gruben, Gary Gruben, and Junior Kuykendall.

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