Billy Ray Gerke

Billy Ray Gerke went to be with the Lord after a lengthy illness on June 18, 2024. A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 10:00 AM, at Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Navasota, Texas with Pastor Michael Nemeck officiating.

Billy Ray was born to Julius and Malinda (Zucknick) Gerke on May 15, 1948, in Navasota, Texas. He graduated from Navasota High School and attended Blinn College before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Sam Houston State University in 1973. Billy Ray was a hard worker who worked throughout his life as a carpenter, rancher and gardener. After graduation, he worked as a ranch foreman for the Kingsbury ranch in Lometa, Texas. After moving back to Navasota, he went to work for Tubular Finishing Works in Navasota, Texas. He was a friction welding supervisor. He then owned and operated Billy Ray’s grocery store. He loved to meet and talk with his customers. Billy Ray went to work with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a guard until his retirement in 1997. Billy Ray moved to Itasca, Texas, and was appointed Constable for Precinct 4 in Hill County. He retired from Hill County in 2014.

He loved to hunt, fish, ranch and garden. His love of hunting would see him preparing for deer season months in advance. He enjoyed spending time fishing and made efforts to find the best methods to catch the biggest fish. Gardening was a science to Billy Ray. He often researched new methods to produce the biggest and largest harvest. He engineered and planted a pecan orchard on his farm in Navasota. He researched and grafted different species of pecans to create better and larger yields. He often produced enough produce from his garden to feed his family and shared it with neighbors and friends throughout the years. He loved ranching and raising cattle and goats.

Billy Ray Gerke is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Donna, and his son, Andrew Ray Gerke.

He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Davis, and husband, Harley, of Itasca, Texas. His son, Jonathan, and wife, Carla, of Albert Lea, Minnesota. He has three grandchildren, Nolan and Joseph Davis, of Itasca, Texas and, Andi, of Albert Lea, Minnesota. He is also survived by four sisters, Barbara Gorney and husband, Leon, of Navasota, Texas, Patsy Hancock of Marble Falls, Texas, Darlene Farmer and husband, Larry, of Navasota and Linda Nobles and husband, Eugene, of Bryan, Texas. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and friends.