Funeral services for William S. “Billy Sam” Elliott, age 75, of Sulphur Springs, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, July 29, 2018, at West Oaks Funeral Home with Bro. Charles Moore officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery with Mike Blount, Ronnie Branscome, Mike Broyles, Bob Carpenter, Jim Gilbert, John Icenhower, Charles Snell, and Key Walker serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Max (Poss) Baxter and James Jones. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, July 28, 2018 at West Oaks Funeral Home. Billy Sam passed away on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at his residence. He was born on June 4, 1943, in Sulphur Springs, the son of William S. “Bill” and Marguerite Gilbert Elliott. He was a lifetime member of First United Methodist Church where as a youth he obtained the Boy Scout Rank of Life and as an adult served on the administrative board. He worked for Nordstrom Valve as a safety director for many years. He was CEO of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce for 15 years. He married Rickie Carpenter on November 19, 1964, at Wesley Methodist Church in Greenville, TX; she survives. In addition to his wife, he is also survived by sons, William S. “Trey” Elliott III of Paris, Richard Joel Elliott of North Lake, grandson, William S. “Will” Elliott, IV of Paris, and sisters, Sherry Elliott Baxter and husband Max of Sulphur Springs, and Annada Elliott Jones and husband James of Sulphur Springs. He was preceded in death by his parents.
An active community leader, Billy Sam served as president of the Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees and president of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival. He served as a member of the Sulphur Springs Fire Department and Rescue Unit, Assistant Cub Scout Master of Pack 69, president of SSHS Wildcat Band Boosters, chairman of the Hopkins County Heritage and Museum Association, member of Hopkins County Civic Center Board, member of the ARK-LA-TEX council of Governments. In 1983 Billy Sam was honored as Hopkins County Citizen of the Year.
Personally, Billy Sam enjoyed traveling with Rickie and their sons. From San Francisco to Washington DC, from South Dakota to Big Bend National Park, from Yellowstone to the Great Smokey Mountains, the adventures he provided created a lifetime of memories.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Zion Cemetery Association, 16256 TX Hwy 11 W, Cumby, TX 75433. Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home.
