Billye King

Billye Lou Tullock King, 92, of Decatur, went to be with her Lord on December 31, 2016. Originally from Etowah, TN, she was the daughter of Mr. English Pierce & Grace Jeanette Carroll Payne Tullock. She graduated in the top ten of her class from Etowah High School in 1942. She worked in several local shops such as McKinney's Dress Shop, the Dime store, and K-Ration packing plant during WWII in Chattanooga. Later, she was the receptionist and optometric assistant for Dr. Bill Wilson for over 15 years. Up until this time, she was a devoted member of North Etowah Baptist Church for over 40 years playing the piano and teaching Sunday School. In 1969, she left Etowah to move to Decatur and be a homemaker upon her marriage to Rev. Edward "Kenneth" King, this was her "happily ever after story". Over their 47 years of ministry together, Rev. Kenneth and Ms. Billye served in numerous churches in the community. Most recently, they have been members of Union Grove Baptist Church over the last 15 years.

She played the piano by ear along with several other instruments and also loved to sing and yodel. Around the mid 1950s she sang on the Cas Walker radio talk show along with her brother, English "Jake" Tullock prior to him leaving to play for the Foggy Mountain Boys with Flat & Scruggs. She reminisced being reviewed as "the next Patsy Montana' when she yodeled "I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" and singing alongside Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff, and many more. She was finishing a song on stage one day just as Dolly Parton, age 10, stepped on stage for her debut performance on the same radio show. She loved to cook, garden, work in flowers, sew, write poetry, plays, short stories, and she loved to coordinate her clothing and jewelry together. She loved to collect butterflies and angels and also loved Vince Gill and Tiger Woods. The caregivers said the night before her death she had been trying to get dressed in her best clothes rather than bed clothes, but kept saying she "didn't need any shoes because she wasn't going to be needing them where she was going". Everyone that knew her understood her belief in God was a driving force in her life and she is walking on "streets of gold" at this very moment.

She was proceeded in death by her mother and father, listed above; infant brother Caroll Tullock; Sisters and brothers-in-law: Weyman and Lillian Cunningham; Wayne and Mary Ella "Eller" Rudder; Carl and Dorothy "Dot" Stillwell; Jim and Aileen "Adge" Barber, brothers: English P. "Jake" Tullock Jr.; Jim "Catfish" Tullock, and a step daughter; Shelia King Cranfield.

Survivors include her husband Rev. Kenneth King of Decatur; her brother Doug Tullock and his wife Brenda of Etowah; stepson Eddie King and his wife Gayle, stepson-in-law Darryl Cranfield, Derrick and granddaughter English Cranfield Roberts- their children Briar and Titan; grandson Blake Cranfield and wife Tosha; and grandson Jessie King.
She also has a host of extended nieces, nephews, their spouses, and children and great family friends. Special mention to the Bobby & Sarah Lou Dennis family for their years of support. Thank you to their caregivers for doing an excellent job in making them both your own.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 7, 2017, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowers Funeral Home with the Rev. Earl Graves officiating. Internment will follow in the McMinn Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers; Eddie King, Jessie King, Blake Cranfield, Durrant Tullock, Michael Tullock, Bobby Dennis. Honorary Pallbearers; Tim Cunningham, Briar Roberts.

The Family will receive friends Saturday, January 7, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Bowers Funeral Home.

Thank you to everyone that has shown us kindness over the years and during this time, it means so much.

Go to www.bowersfh.com and sign the guest book and offer your condolences. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Inc., of Decatur, TN. 423-334-3661