Billy Laverne Sheats was born in a tent near Estelline , Texas on July 10, 1929, when the parsonage wasn’t ready for his arrival. He passed away peacefully at the age of 93 at his Longmont, Colorado home on November 21, 2022.
Billy often helped his parents, Ima Love (Jones) and Homer Morris Sheats, by caring for his younger brothers, Ladon and Morris, while mom and dad were away. Billy’s dad was the District Superintendent for the Assemblies of God in West Texas. Billy attended Lubbock High School and graduated from Texas Tech University. He later earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Houston. He proudly served as 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force from 1952-1954.
On November 22, 1949, Billy married the only woman that he ever loved in Lubbock, Texas. He met Velma “Louise” Rogers at a church youth group while she was still in high school. Billy and Louise had three children together, Judy, Cindi, and Gary, and and remained happy and in love until the time of Louise’s passing in 2021. The family moved from Texas to Colorado Springs in the late 1940s and then to Longmont in 1978.
Billy was an entrepreneur. In the 1960s, he partnered with two friends and started Recreation Equipment Company located in Denver, Colorado. Recreation Equipment Company sold boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles and trampolines. Later he bought them out. Billy sold the business in the mid-1970s. He also owned a Lawn and Garden Equipment Distribution company called Premier Distributors. He sold that and “retired” in 1985. Billy owned and operated Partners Plan Realty until the early 1990s and officially retired in 1992.
Billy was involved in several clubs including Kiwanis, Gideons, and Rotary. He was very involved in church and taught Adult Sunday School and Bible Studies. He enjoyed snowmobiling, boating, and motorcycles. Billy loved to travel. Family vacations were always centered around history and learning. The family visited 40 of the 50 states in the USA. In 1975, Billy took his family on a six week trip to Europe, Israel, and Greece. When Louise retired from teaching, they traveled together extensively. Their travels took them to South Africa, Israel, Egypt, Europe, Greece, China, Australia and many others.
Billy loved his family so. He will be dearly missed.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Gary Sheats, his son-in-law, Gary Lay, his brother Ladon Sheats, and by his loving wife of more than 72 years, Louise Sheats. He is survived by his daughters Judy Lay and Cindi (Lee) Whitman; grandchildren, Adam (Lydia) Whitman, Michael (Amanda) Whitman, Katelyn Whitman, Ray (Helen) Lay and Nicole Lay; great-grandchildren Hailee, Christian, Janelle, Joseph, Harper, Bailey, Caleb, Nathan, Ryan, Kennedy, Tamara, Christopher, Max, Gracie, and Esther; his brother, Pastor Morris (Linda) Sheats; and by nephew, Morris Jr., and his niece, Shanda.
A Memorial Service will be held in his honor on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 11:00am at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont, after which Billy will be laid to eternal rest with Louise at Foothills Gardens of Memory. Those who wish to view may do so one hour before the service. Please visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share your condolences with the family.
