Billy Edwin Houck of Durant, Oklahoma, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the age of 91. He was born on Thursday, December 6, 1934, in Seminole, Oklahoma, to Mary Meryl (Epperson) and Walter Calvin Houck.
Billy grew up in Oklahoma and Arizona. In 1952, Billy joined the Navy, serving his country. After leaving the Navy, he went to work with his brothers, whom he was very close to, on oil rigs. He continued this work until he met the love of his life, Ida Estelle, in Antlers, Oklahoma. He proposed to her after only two weeks of dating, beginning a wonderful marriage that would last 65 years. They were truly best friends.
Billy began working in oil refineries as a pipe fitter and later became a pipe fitter supervisor and foreman on numerous jobs around the world.
In 1975, he moved his family to Puerto Rico for a job as the lead planner/scheduler for Daniel Construction, helping build the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Plant. Billy also worked overseas on several jobs in St. Croix and Panama. After moving several more times for work, the family eventually settled in Rowlett, Texas, where he worked as a planner/scheduler for Fluor Daniel for many years.
Billy helped many family members and friends find jobs with Fluor Daniel and Texas Instruments, where some are still employed today. If anyone needed a job, a place to work, or simply a helping hand, Billy was always the first to lend one. He had an exceptionally kind and giving heart.
Every Christmas, he loved going with his friends from work to an orphanage, where they would hand out gifts to the children. Billy loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was always the most popular dad, uncle, grandfather, and friend.
One of his favorite times of the year was attending his wife’s family reunion. He loved the Hill family very much and always served as the auctioneer, entertaining everyone. He loved taking family vacations, going to Six Flags, fishing, and anything involving a little excitement. You could always count on Billy to make things fun.
He was always the life of the party and told the best stories. One of his favorites was about his Uncle R.L., who was in the circus and was known as “Teepo Boliver the Wild Man.” He would stand in a cage and tear raw meat with his teeth, and Billy always got a kick out of telling that story.
Billy later went to work for Phil Dill Boats in Lewisville, Texas, working the Dallas Boat Show every year and enjoying fishing trips on Lake Lewisville. Later, Billy and Ida moved to Durant, Oklahoma, to be closer to family. He went to work for Big Five Community Services, driving a SORTS bus.
After trying retirement and quickly discovering it was not for him, Billy went to work in maintenance at Choctaw Casino, where he continued working until the age of 88. Once he finally retired, he began buying, regripping, and refurbishing golf clubs and selling them at Buncombe Creek Golf Course, where he played golf weekly with his friends up until the age of 91.
Billy enjoyed playing cribbage with his brother George and sister-in-law Georgia, going to garage sales, holding garage sales with his friends Mary and Delbert, attending weekly bingo, handing out candy and popsicles to the neighborhood children, and helping provide food to those in need.
Billy got up every day with a positive attitude, ready to take on a new adventure, and he never met a stranger. He was the father of six children, whom he loved very much and who were the lights of his life. Billy was loved by so many, and he loved deeply in return.
He would always say, “Love and help even when it seems hard. That is what God said we are supposed to do,” and he certainly lived by those words.
Billy was a Christian who loved the Lord with all his heart and was ready to be with Him in Heaven.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mary Houck; sisters, Elwanda Almond, Wanda Terrell, and Dorothy Marks; and brothers, Denny Houck, Joe Houck, Leo Houck, and Hank Houck.
Survivors include his loving wife, Ida Estelle Houck of Durant, Oklahoma; brother, George Houck and wife Georgia of Durant, Oklahoma; daughters, Barbara Davis and husband Rusty of Soldotna, Alaska, Sharon Cooper and husband Mike of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Misty Stokes and husband Brook of Dallas, Texas; sons, William “Bo” McCluskey of Anna, Texas, Bobby Houck of Durant, Oklahoma, and Richard Houck and wife Patricia of Kearns, Utah; grandchildren, Ross Massey, Angie Daniels, Amber Katzenberger, Ryan Davis, Eric McCluskey, Amanda Cousin, William McCluskey Jr., Cody Ricks, Lindsay Ricks, Lane Luebber, and Sierra Esquivel; bonus grandchildren, Devin Spaulding, Adrian Spaulding, Dakota Spaulding, Kallum Spaulding, Damion Goodwin, Megan Goodwin, Talon Goodwin, and Tucker Donelan; special friends, Delbert, Mary, and Gracie Burnett, Deena and Mac Hendon and family, and Billy and Kathy Bokies; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews; as well as other extended family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at The Gordon Center, 305 N 2nd Ave, Durant, Oklahoma with Leo Houck officiating.
The family recommends floral arrangements to be made from Southern Blooms by Lori or Connie’s Floral Creations.