Rev. Billy Joe Usher, 93, of Richardson, Texas, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, August 20, 2020, at the El Dorado Retirement Home in Richardson.

A livestream memorial service will be held on September 21, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. CST from The First United Methodist Church in Richardson. Arrangements are under the direction of Allan Fuller Funeral Home in Wills Point.

Bill was born April 26, 1927, in Wills Point, TX, the son of William Buford Usher and Grace Howell Usher Magee. Raised in Wills Point, he joined the United States Navy in April, 1945. He met his future wife, Donna Davis near the end of his service. They were married on April 24, 1948.

Bill earned his undergraduate degree from Penn State University and Garrett Seminary in Illinois. He received his Master of Theological Studies from the Claremont School of Theology in 1959.

During his long and meaningful career as a Methodist minister, he served the church in a variety of positions.  He founded Aldersgate Methodist Church in Tustin, CA, in 1959 and led Methodist congregations throughout southern California including Monrovia and Long Beach, as well as Las Vegas, NV, Phoenix, and Sun City, AZ.

In addition to his work as pastor, Bill directed Pacific Homes Retirement communities and worked for Bechtel Corp. on the Alaska pipeline. Bill and his beloved wife Donna loved to travel, both domestically and overseas. They led a group to the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany. They twice visited their son Steve in Japan, the second time to christen their granddaughter, Maya. Bill and Donna also travelled extensively in the US, often accompanied by their grandsons, Joey and Danny. They went white-water rafting though the Grand Canyon in 1984 and Bill returned for a second trip in 1987. On both trips their son, Howie, was a river guide.

A member of the First United Methodist Church in Richardson, Bill will be remembered as a generous and compassionate individual, always present when his congregants or community needed counsel and support.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Usher, Grace Magee and his wife, Donna Davis Usher.

Bill is survived by his three sons, Stephen Craig Usher & wife, Hitomi, of San Diego, California, Howell Davis Usher & wife, Amy, of Clarkdale, Arizona and Kenneth Paul Usher & wife, Susan, of Richardson, Texas; four grandchildren, Emily Michelle Usher, Joseph Paul Usher & wife, Kira, Daniel Davis Usher & wife, Katie, Maya Jaime Usher; two great-granddaughters, Keira Grace Usher and Addilyn Lorraine Usher, and Bill's beloved dog, Lady.