Billy M. Mann, 94, of Austin passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016. Graveside service: 10 a.m. Tuesday in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery with the memorial service following at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Austin, 901 Trinity. Honorary pallbearers: F. O'Neal Griffin, Dan Morrison, Donald Redman, John Cantwell, Ahmet Yayboke, Chuck Bailey, Richard Alvarado and Chip Brees. Billy was born in Decatur on Jan. 12, 1922. He grew up in Vernon and graduated from Vernon High School in 1939, where he was president of his senior class. He attended Texas Tech University for one year before entering the service in World War II. After the war, he graduated in 1948 from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in business, graduating with highest honors. On July 19, 1944, Billy married Bonnie Jean Rice in Corpus Christi and they were married for 71 years. Billy had a passion for family, God and church, Arthur Andersen & Co., golf and the University of Texas Longhorns. He was a lifelong Baptist and was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Vernon. He was also a member of Baptist churches in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denver, Colo., and Seattle, Wash. Churches included Lakewood Baptist Church in Dallas where he was ordained as a deacon, Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth and First Baptist Church in Austin where he became deacon emeritus. Billy's entire work career was with Arthur Andersen & Co. from 1948-1984. He worked in the offices in Houston from 1948-1951, Dallas from 1951-1963, Fort Worth from 1963-1974, Denver from 1974-1980 and Seattle from 1980-1984 where he retired. His golf passions were carried out as a member of Ridglea Country Club in Fort Worth, Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle and Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. In addition to being a lifelong deacon, his special achievements in life included being an ensign in the U.S. Navy during World War II where he taught pilots to fly. He was a member of the first college graduating class for servicemen under the GI Bill. He was made a partner in Arthur Andersen in 1958. Billy made many lifelong friends, especially from churches and Arthur Andersen, for which his family is forever grateful. Billy's family and friends will all agree that he was one of the most honorable men they ever knew. His daughters, Deb and Barb, say that if anyone wants to know what their Heavenly Father is like, all they have to do is look at their earthly father. He was the very best father and man in every sense of the word. The family wishes to thank all of the caregivers at Westminster Manor for their wonderful care these past few months. Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Lon L. and Laura Belew Mann; his sister, Dorothy Mann Henly; and numerous Belew aunts, uncles and cousins. Survivors: He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Jean Mann of Austin; daughters, Debra Mann of Austin and Dr. Barbra Mann Wall of Charlottesville, Va.; grandsons, William Austin Wall of Austin and Adam Wall (wife, Michelle) of South Bend, Ind.; his granddaughter, Angilee Wall Scaramuzzino (husband, Francesco) of London, England; sister-in-law, Barbara Key; nieces, Linda Henly Appleton, Becky Key Norsworthy, Linda Key Willingham; and nephews, Bill Henly, Dan Henly, and Greg Key.
Published in Star-Telegram on Apr. 3, 2016