Bill Revell Justice

Bill Revell Justice was called to his Heavenly home on February 4, 2023, surrounded by loving family.

Bill Revell Justice was born into this world on May 5, 1928, in Sour Lake, Texas to Harry Talmadge and Gertrude Ola (Smith) Justice, their youngest of five children.  Bill spent his youth in Sour Lake and attended school there until making the decision to leave to enlist in the U.S. Navy in January 1946.  While in the Navy, Bill spent time aboard the USS Shangri-La during Operation Crossroads in the Central Pacific and later traveling to both Pearl Harbor and Sydney, Australia.  After completing his Naval tour in December of 1947, Bill returned to work in his hometown of Sour Lake.

On a night out with friends at the ABC Park in Liberty, Texas, Bill met Alice Gregory, who ended up in his arms during the Paul Jones dance.  At the point in the dance for the obligatory partner change, Bill refused to let her go – and so began their dance through this life together.  Bill and Alice were married on October 15, 1950, and held on to each other for over 72 years.

To say that Bill was a very hard-working man would be a gross understatement.  In fact, most who knew him would readily agree that he could and would outwork almost anyone.  And although he was not formally educated, he had a deep thirst for knowledge and would study diligently until he mastered whatever subject matter he was interested in.  This ability to self-educate led him to be successful in the many different careers he held throughout this life – from a brick layer, to house mover, watermelon salesman in Alaska (yes, you read that right!), and eventually retiring as a Machinist.  Some of his other many talents included carpentry, auto mechanics, plumbing, electrical work, roofing, master of the Rubik’s Cube, being the only one allowed to take over Sweet Pea’s kitchen and successfully prepare meals like Mama Dear does, and the list could go on and on.  Suffice it to say, if you needed to know how to do something, you just had to ask him, because, as he so eloquently put it, “You just don’t know what you just don’t know”.  Which brings to mind a few other of Bill’s famous one-liners, which were usually delivered with that certain twinkle in his eye and half grin, such as “If you want something done right, you better do it yourself”; “A fool is like a leaky bucket – it won’t hold anything you put in it”.

At the core of the hard work and diligence throughout his life was Bill’s desire to take care of and provide for his family; to be the best husband, son, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and role model he could be – to which he was a resounding success.

Bill was a deeply religious man, and his study of the Bible was one of his lifelong journeys.  He applied the fruits of his knowledge in every aspect of his life and it factored in every decision he made. He was often known to go out of his way to help others with anything needed and will be remembered as a generous man. When thinking of Bill these two scriptures readily come to mind:

John 14 – “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Matthew 6 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth not rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Bill was preceded in death by his mother and father Harry Talmadge and Gertrude Ola (Smith) Justice; sister Rosa Leigh Davis; brothers Joe Harry Justice, Harold “Putt” Talmadge Justice, and Leroy Hope Justice; sons Johnny Riley Justice and Billy Ray Justice; Daughter-in-Law Sue Irby Justice; and grandson Randal Gene Leatherman.

He is survived by his loving wife Alice Louise Justice; sons Michael Revell Justice and Timothy Daniel Justice; daughters Mary Ann Justice and Gayla Denise Leatherman; grandchildren Michael Ray Justice and wife Tabitha, Matthew Revell Justice and wife Lindsay, Christina Kay Justice, Victoria Amanda Arway and husband Andy, Katie Dobbs Justice, Casie Denise Morgan and husband Bo, Christie Gene Louise Watson and husband Jimmy; great grandchildren Jennifer Lexus Justice, Precious Justice, Shelby  Anne Justice, Lyla Beth Justice, Mattie Rose Justice, Nathaniel Phillip Arway, James Steven McMillan and wife Shana, Jake Steven McMillan and Jade Denise Morgan; and many other extended family and friends.

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