Billie Marie Cates (nee Billie Marie Smith) died October 27, 2022 peacefully at home at the age of 91.

Billie was born in Goodlett, Texas on July 9, 1931. She was one of five children born to William Wesley Smith and Bertha Mae Johnston Smith. She graduated from Quanah High School in Quanah, Texas and graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas in 1951. In college, Billie met Donald Horace Sosebee. By the age of 19, she had graduated college, married Don Sosebee and begun her teaching career in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where they lived for several years before returning to Texas for the remainder of her life.

Billie and Don had two children and divorced in 1969. She married Willis Marlowe Cates, and they enjoyed 14 years of marriage before his death in 1983. Billie married Donald Wayne Johnston in 1999, and they had nearly 10 happy years together before his death in 2010. Billie and Wayne were married at Sagemont Church. Although she chose not to change her name legally to Johnston, she was also known by many in the church community as "Billie Johnston".

Billie taught second grade at Franklin Elementary in the Houston Independent School District for most of her career, as well as first grade and Special Education. She returned to school and earned her Masters degree in Education from the University of Houston in 1979, and she continued working for H.I.S.D., as an Educational Diagnostician, for the remainder of her career, which totaled 56 years.

Billie touched many lives with her passion for helping others and her warm, loving, generous nature. She was known by many as their "other mother", their "other grandmother", their favorite teacher, and their very dear friend.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents and three of her siblings; husbands Donald Horace Sosebee, Willis Marlowe Cates, and Donald Wayne Jonhnston; her son, Donald Horace Sosebee, Jr.; and her grandson, Michael Logan Sosebee. Survivors are her sister, Lorado Gibson; daughter, Sharon Sosebee; granddaughter, Chandler Marie Sosebee, whom Billie helped raise; granddaughter, Joy Dubose-Simonton (Robert); grandson, Austin Sosebee (Amber); great-grandson, Christian Simonton (Jessica); great-granddaughter, Adley Simonton; great-grandson, Riggs Michael Sosebee and great-great granddaughter, Sage Marie Simonton. Also included are many loving step-children, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, along with many devoted nieces, nephews and many friends she considered family.

A memorial service and celebration of Billie's life will be held at Sagemont Church, in the Beltway Chapel, on Monday, November 14, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.