Billy Gene Smith was welcomed into heaven on October 7, 2023. He was 75 years young.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Janie; 3 sons and their wives; 3 grandsons; a brother; and 2 sisters.

He was best known as the founder of Billy Gene's Restaurant in Kerrville, Texas.

His early years were spent in San Antonio and Waco, Texas. His participation in Little League baseball was curtailed by a move to Alaska in middle school.

Upon returning to San Antonio in high school, he became the bass guitarist for The Laughing Kind, which became the longest running garage band in San Antonio.

In 1968, he joined the Marines (because he liked the uniform) and was stationed in Hawaii, where he again had the opportunity to play baseball, as a pitcher, for the Marine Corps. It was in Hawaii that he recognized his need for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

He returned to San Antonio after discharge where he joined Walgreen's Grill. This was the beginning of his restaurant career. After becoming a grill cook and working as a manager in training, Billy Gene was given his own store in Waco, Texas.

In Waco, he attended Parkview Baptist Church where he recognized his need for further Biblical training. He also met the love of his life, Janie Lynn Byford. They were married January 5, 1974, and moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee for Billy Gene to attend Bible college. In August of 1976, they returned to Waco where he served for five and half years as the founding principal of Parkview Christian Academy.

The couple moved to San Antonio in 1983, where he took up his love of the restaurant business. Events finally led them to Bandera, Texas in 1996, where they opened Billy Gene's Restaurant featuring flavors of the Texas Hill Country. Wanting to expand, they opened a Billy Gene's in Kerrville in 2005. The Lord greatly blessed the business. Their son, Ty, and his wife, Crystal, decided to take over the restaurant at his retirement.

Billy Gene loved taking walks with the dogs he had over the years, working on his yard, listening to The Eagles, and cheering on the San Antonio Spurs.

Through all the years, he was active in several churches as a Bible teacher and elder. The last fourteen years at Kerrville Bible Church were a special blessing. We celebrate his homegoing even as we miss him.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM, Monday October 16, 2023, at Kerrville Bible Church with Pastor Chris McKnight officiating. The burial will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery earlier that day.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Christian Men's Job Corps, cmjckerrcounty.com.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff of Audie Murphy Hospital in San Antonio, who lovingly cared for him in his last days.

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