Ernest “Billy” Roach

Ernest “Billy” Dee Roach, 90, of Jasper, died Saturday, March 19, 2022.  He was born on February 5, 1932, in Corsicana, to Willa Aline Wooten Roach and Erron D. Roach.  Billy proudly served his county in the United States Army during the Korean conflict.

Ernest received the name “Billy” when his uncle, “Shorty”, looked over the crib and said he looks like a Billy, and it stuck!

Because of his dads work and pastoring various churches he attended fourteen different schools growing up. Billy also attended Southwestern Bible College in Waxahachie, for a year hitchhiking back to Jasper on the weekends and working a job delivering Grapette drinks for three cents a case.

He met the love of his life, Betty Bevil, in the Assembly of God Church, on Othella Street in Jasper.  They dated for a few years and then were married in the Newton Assembly of God Church by Wimberly Williams.  Within two weeks he was drafted into the army and spent two years in Korea.  When he came out of service he and Betty moved to Sour Lake where he worked for Transco and they raised two wonderful boys.

Billy was a deacon in the First Assembly of God Church in Sour Lake and then later on in the Littlerock Assembly of God Church in Kountze.  He retired at age 55 and then worked as an inspector for the pipeline, as well as traveling with his son and his family, as they held revivals.

He was a blessing to so many people by giving of his time and money to help others.  His favorite pastime was fishing, hunting, and telling stories, lots of stories…LOTS AND LOTS OF STORIES!

Survivors include his wife, Betty Bevil Roach; son, Reverend Ricky Roach and his wife, Elizabeth “Danise”, of Jasper; grandson, Johnathon Roach and his wife, Katie; granddaughters, Krystal House and her husband, Steven and Rachel Nuckels and her husband, Eric; great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Bryson, Garrick, Connor, Kayden, Braelyn, and Kyleigh.  He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Gary Roach.

A gathering of Billy’s family and friends will be 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday March 25, 2022, at First Assembly of God, 351 West Gibson Street, Jasper.  His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the church, under the direction of Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee.  His interment will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Rosedale Cemetery, Sour Lake.