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William Royce Meares Sr. (Royce) passed away on Friday, January 13, 2023, in San Angelo, Texas, following a brief illness. He was 93 years old.
He was born in Lamesa, Texas on April 7, 1929, the second child of Raymon and Myrtle Meares.
Royce spent his youth in the Clauene and Levelland area working on the family farm. He attended schools in Levelland and San Angelo.
He married Betty Gay Bradford in Levelland in 1949 and they had a son, Billy, a year later. Following her death, he met and married wife Jo in 1958 and gained a daughter JoBeth and son Danny. Royce and Jo made their home in Monahans and Odessa for many years before settling for good in Winters in 1994.
Royce had a long and incredibly successful career in the oil fields of West Texas. He worked every job imaginable in the oil fields and, later in his career, was a very sought-after “fisherman” in the drilling world. He retired from Hillin Drilling as Drilling Superintendent in the late 1980’s. He spent his remaining years ranching and farming with his wife on land in Coke, Concho, and Runnels Counties.
Royce always looked forward to spending time at the ranch, feeding and looking after his cows. He loved sharing the ranching lifestyle and his immense knowledge with family and friends. He met his life-long dream of becoming a pilot in the early 1980’s and loved taking a flight in his Cessna with anyone who would go. He flew until he was 90 years old and enjoyed every second of it. Royce was a man of unwavering conviction, character, and faith. His work ethic was unmatched and cannot be overstated. He loved his family and thought family was the most important thing in the world.
Royce was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Betty Gay Meares, his beloved wife of 59 years, Jo Meares, his son William Royce “Billy” Meares Jr., his brothers Coy Meares and Roland Meares and his sister Joy McCaw.
He is survived by his daughter JoBeth Milam and husband John of Waco, son Danny Huffman and wife Lisa of Robinson, granddaughters Candace Meares and Sabrina Meares of San Angelo and JoAnna Milam Guerrero of Chicago, Ill., great-grandchildren Mason Walker Meares, Colten Smith Meares, Dallas William Meares, and Lily Jo Meares of San Angelo and Maximillian Raul Guerrero of Chicago, Ill., one great-granddaughter on the way, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
Royce was blessed to have a great church home at First Baptist Church of Winters and found many lasting friendships there over the years. He was also incredibly lucky to have great neighbors always looking out for him. A very sincere thanks to Rosie Tamez, Pat Smith, and Michelle Martinez for always having a minute to check in on him, bring him a hamburger or fix him that Jell-O with fruit that he loved. The family would also like to extend their most profound thanks to those at North Runnels Hospital, Interim Hospice, and San Angelo Nursing and Rehabilitation who respected Royce’s wishes and prioritized his peace and comfort during his last days.
Funeral services for Royce Meares will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, January 16, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Winters with a short graveside ceremony following at Lakeview Cemetery in Winters. Honorary Pallbearers are his great-grandsons Mason, Colten and Dallas Meares and Maximillian Guerrero and special church friends Wendell Anderson, Dennis McBeth, and Ken Slimp.
