Jim Billie Bonner, Jr., son of Jim Billie Bonner and Nannie Belle York, was called Billie or Bill and was born at Bonnerville, Texas on March 21, 1922. Billie had pneumonia at the same time as his sister, Laura Belle; there were two beds in the room with one sick child in each bed. Uncle Millen [James Millen Bonner] helped take care of Billie who recovered with no after effects. Although Dr. Billie Sneed and Dr. McFadden from Streetman said there was nothing they could do for Billie, Uncle Millen gave him teaspoons of whiskey and attributed his recovery to that. Billie attended Stewards Mill and Fairfield schools but quit when his father died to run the farm and syrup mill. The next year he got a job driving the school bus and that allowed him to return to school and play on Fairfield's first football team. He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1941 and worked for while at an auction sale barn owned by Tom Bonner and Sam Manahan. During World War II Bill served in the United States Army and was wounded while in Germany. This wound caused the loss of his left leg and left eye. The loss of the leg didn't impair his mobility as he used prosthesis. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Rifleman Badge, and one battle star for his service. Forrest Wood, Jr. recalled that Billie got a car with an automatic transmission when he returned and it was a "first" for the area.
Billie married Nelma Jean Speed on December 23, 1948. The daughter of Clarence Speed and Jessie Renfro, Jean was born on February 22, 1930 and had worked at First National Bank in Dallas during World War II. At one time they lived at Bonnerville in the house vacated by Nannie when she moved to town. About 1954, they built a house northeast of Fairfield on land they purchased in the Hickory Grove Community. They operated the "Half-Circle J" cattle ranch at Brown's Creek. From 1947 until Billie's death in 1994; Jean and Buck continue its operation, Billie served as Commissioner, Precinct I, Freestone County, Texas. Billie had quite a sense of humor. He once told of showing a man that his new electric cattle prod was no good by using the prod on his artificial leg. Luckily for Billie, nothing went wrong and it was only later that he remembered the leg had steel braces. He also said, "When we all went to look for Uncle Ol, I led the way with my wooden leg in case there were any snakes." Billie died in Fairfield on October 6, 1994 and is buried in the Bonner Cemetery. Billie and Jean were parents of two sons: Jim Billie III; Joe Biffany
Billie married Nelma Jean Speed on December 23, 1948. The daughter of Clarence Speed and Jessie Renfro, Jean was born on February 22, 1930 and had worked at First National Bank in Dallas during World War II. At one time they lived at Bonnerville in the house vacated by Nannie when she moved to town. About 1954, they built a house northeast of Fairfield on land they purchased in the Hickory Grove Community. They operated the "Half-Circle J" cattle ranch at Brown's Creek. From 1947 until Billie's death in 1994; Jean and Buck continue its operation, Billie served as Commissioner, Precinct I, Freestone County, Texas. Billie had quite a sense of humor. He once told of showing a man that his new electric cattle prod was no good by using the prod on his artificial leg. Luckily for Billie, nothing went wrong and it was only later that he remembered the leg had steel braces. He also said, "When we all went to look for Uncle Ol, I led the way with my wooden leg in case there were any snakes." Billie died in Fairfield on October 6, 1994 and is buried in the Bonner Cemetery. Billie and Jean were parents of two sons: Jim Billie III; Joe Biffany
Jim Billie Bonner, Jr., son of Jim Billie Bonner and Nannie Belle York, was called Billie or Bill and was born at Bonnerville, Texas on March 21, 1922. Billie had pneumonia at the same time as his sister, Laura Belle; there were two beds in the room with one sick child in each bed. Uncle Millen [James Millen Bonner] helped take care of Billie who recovered with no after effects. Although Dr. Billie Sneed and Dr. McFadden from Streetman said there was nothing they could do for Billie, Uncle Millen gave him teaspoons of whiskey and attributed his recovery to that. Billie attended Stewards Mill and Fairfield schools but quit when his father died to run the farm and syrup mill. The next year he got a job driving the school bus and that allowed him to return to school and play on Fairfield's first football team. He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1941 and worked for while at an auction sale barn owned by Tom Bonner and Sam Manahan. During World War II Bill served in the United States Army and was wounded while in Germany. This wound caused the loss of his left leg and left eye. The loss of the leg didn't impair his mobility as he used prosthesis. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Rifleman Badge, and one battle star for his service. Forrest Wood, Jr. recalled that Billie got a car with an automatic transmission when he returned and it was a "first" for the area.
Billie married Nelma Jean Speed on December 23, 1948. The daughter of Clarence Speed and Jessie Renfro, Jean was born on February 22, 1930 and had worked at First National Bank in Dallas during World War II. At one time they lived at Bonnerville in the house vacated by Nannie when she moved to town. About 1954, they built a house northeast of Fairfield on land they purchased in the Hickory Grove Community. They operated the "Half-Circle J" cattle ranch at Brown's Creek. From 1947 until Billie's death in 1994; Jean and Buck continue its operation, Billie served as Commissioner, Precinct I, Freestone County, Texas. Billie had quite a sense of humor. He once told of showing a man that his new electric cattle prod was no good by using the prod on his artificial leg. Luckily for Billie, nothing went wrong and it was only later that he remembered the leg had steel braces. He also said, "When we all went to look for Uncle Ol, I led the way with my wooden leg in case there were any snakes." Billie died in Fairfield on October 6, 1994 and is buried in the Bonner Cemetery. Billie and Jean were parents of two sons: Jim Billie III; Joe Biffany
Billie married Nelma Jean Speed on December 23, 1948. The daughter of Clarence Speed and Jessie Renfro, Jean was born on February 22, 1930 and had worked at First National Bank in Dallas during World War II. At one time they lived at Bonnerville in the house vacated by Nannie when she moved to town. About 1954, they built a house northeast of Fairfield on land they purchased in the Hickory Grove Community. They operated the "Half-Circle J" cattle ranch at Brown's Creek. From 1947 until Billie's death in 1994; Jean and Buck continue its operation, Billie served as Commissioner, Precinct I, Freestone County, Texas. Billie had quite a sense of humor. He once told of showing a man that his new electric cattle prod was no good by using the prod on his artificial leg. Luckily for Billie, nothing went wrong and it was only later that he remembered the leg had steel braces. He also said, "When we all went to look for Uncle Ol, I led the way with my wooden leg in case there were any snakes." Billie died in Fairfield on October 6, 1994 and is buried in the Bonner Cemetery. Billie and Jean were parents of two sons: Jim Billie III; Joe Biffany
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