WILMA "BILLIE" GILL SHERTZER

Wilma "Billie" Gill Shertzer, 90, of Tyler, Texas, died in Tyler on June 18, 2008, following a two-and-a-half week battle with pneumonia. Mrs. Shertzer was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on September 2, 1917 to the late William Harris Gill and Flora Dulin Gill. After graduating from Bartlesville High School, she attended Ward Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee, and thereafter, the University of Kansas where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in English, and a minor in Chemistry.

In 1940, she married Charles Fredric Shertzer of Dewey, Oklahoma. After residing in Memphis for several years, the couple returned to Bartlesville where Mr. Shertzer was an independent oil producer and rancher. In addition to raising five children, Mrs. Shertzer was a member of Berachah Church, Houston, Texas, the A.W. Chapter of P.E.O. in which she served in many capacities including president, was a member of and served as president of the Bartlesville Service League, was a member of the D.A.R, , and taught adult women¿s Sunday school classes. A natural teacher and excellent Bible scholar, her classes often had standing room only. In addition to her civic and parenting responsibilities, Mrs. Shertzer was a devoted caregiver for her mother, her mother and father-in-law, and three elderly aunts who lived in Bartlesville.

In 1973, the Shertzers moved to Kilgore, Texas to start Pak-Sher, Inc. While there, Mrs. Shertzer was a member of the Kilgore Women¿s Club and resumed teaching adult women¿s classes in Kilgore. In 1988, the couple moved to Tyler, Texas. Mr. Shertzer died in 1990 following a prolonged illness.

Mrs. Shertzer is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Charles Fredric Shertzer, her daughter Margaret Shertzer Jackson, and son Charles Peter Shertzer. She is survived by daughter Elizabeth („Fritter‰) McNally and husband Michael of Tyler; daughter Nancy White and husband John of Dallas, daughter Sara Patteson and husband Richard of Tyler; son-in-law W.C. Jackson of Kilgore, four granddaughters: Julie Jackson Beck of Kilgore, Beth McNally Zajicek and husband Hubert of Dallas, Carrie Lightner Jackson of Kilgore, and Flora Jane Patteson of Tyler; as well as two great-grandchildren, Annie and Emily Zajicek of Dallas. Mrs. Shertzer is also survived by her nephew, Craig D. Gill and wife Rebecca of Whitehall, AR., and adopted family, Jim and Joan Brettell, Larry, Sally and Holly Marsh, all of Tyler, and Kathy Emmons of Bullard, Texas.

A family graveside service will be conducted at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home, Tyler.

Gifts may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701, or to the charity of your choice.