Billie J. Burgess, 74, passed away at 6:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at his home with his loving family by his side.

Billie was born on Oct. 23, 1940, in Montrose, Ark. to Timothy J. and Martha S. (Abernathy) Burgess. The family moved to the Marshall county area when he was in the seventh grade. He graduated with the class of 1958 from Bremen High School.

He loyally served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 until his Honorable Discharge in 1971 in aircraft electronics. Billie served as the Chief of Navy and was aboard the U.S.S. Constellation, the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, and the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard.

He then attended the College of Great Falls in Great Falls, Montana, graduating with his Bachelors in Business and Accounting in 1978. While going to college in Great Falls, Billie was on a bowling league with a gentleman, who had a daughter that just had to meet Billie. Needless to say, on Dec. 22, 1975, Billie took as his bride this young lady, Paula A. Rhodes.

Billie worked as an accountant for many car dealerships, mainly Ford. This lead to Paula and him moving and seeing many places. The states included: Montana, Idaho, Washington State and California. He would retire in 2005 and the couple would move to Plymouth to be near his family.

In their younger years, Billie and Paula were on bowling leagues. He was a member of the V.F.W. in Bremen and the American Legion in Plymouth. He enjoyed fishing, panning for gold, and hunting and camping in the mountains. He loved reading anything and everything he could get his hands on. He liked to tend to his vegetable garden and mowing his lawn. Billie treasured visits from his son and grandkids.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years: Paula, Plymouth; their son: Matt (Stephanie) Burgess, Wash.; his grandchildren: Kyle; Austin; Sebastian; and Benjamin Burgess, all of Wash.; his mother: Martha Burgess, Plymouth; his siblings: Beverly (Edward) Kokoszki, Palm Coast, Fla.; Robert (Brenda) Burgess, Plymouth; Linda (Gene) Piper, Plymouth; and sister-in-laws: Eileen Burgess, Plymouth; and Debra Rhodes, Great Falls, Mont.

Billie was preceded in death by his fathers: Louis; Timothy; his son: Andrew “AJ” Burgess, in 1995; and his brother: John Burgess, 2009.

Family services will take place. Memorial contributions can be made to the Center for Hospice Care, Plymouth. Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.