Thank you JP. That brought me some comfort.

Gone fishin.....indeed.... Billy was a fisher of men

As many of you know, Billy was a moderator here on the TFF for many years. I try to host moderator get togethers twice a year. Billy made most of them. He always made an entrance. The door would swing open and we would all yell BILLY and get up to shake his hand and give him a hug, then we we went back to visiting and maybe drinking a few cold beers. Billy usually lasted until 8 or 9pm, then he would, a lot of times, just disappear. I mean he was notorious for it, so much so that we all gave him grief about it. Most of the guys stay Friday and Saturday night, but never Billy. He would come by Friday or Saturday and sometimes both days, but he never spent the night. He had to get home to his wife Kay.

I don't know why I'm telling this. It just stands out to me for some reason. That man really loved his wife. He loved hanging with us guys, but Kay was his best friend and the love of his life. Y'all who know her be sure and check in on her often. We feel loss, but she walked with him every day. Living life with such a big soul leaves a big space to fill.

So True

He was also one of the few that showed up to fish at every single moderator event. You could always count on Billy dragging that Red Skeeter to Monticello Welsh or wherever it was that we had decided we were going to crawl out of bed and go during the get together. Didn�t matter if it was for bragging rights or prizes Billy D was there ready to get it on. The disappearing Dyson was a classic. One minute he�s there, the next minute he gone. LOL. Really blessed for the time I was able to spend with him, we all were.

JP that poem is incredible. Thank u for posting

Sounds like a very moving memorial service and one that Billy deserved. He was a character and an a nbn aging lb an. Good to see so many people posting how he affected them in such a positive way. The world needs more people like Billy.

Wish I could have been at the service. Stuck in West TX...

It was truly a great service. It was an honor to have known the man, to be as good of friends as we were, and to me mentored by him in my earlier years on Fork. I really felt his impact when I looked around the Chapel Tuesday and it was a who's who of Lake Fork. Some of the best guides ever on the lake, pretty much every great tournament angler that has ever come off that lake. And just all the fishing community as well. Guys from as far over as West Texas.
He was always helping people out. Like said in the service, I don't know how many bags of worms I saw him throw out to people struggling, and said "throw this, you'll get bit."

Lake Fork will never feel the same without you bud, but I know you'll be right there next to me on the front deck of that Skeeter!

Good words Chris. He & Kay built a beautiful home in Penson Point. I think I made the down payment on it with all the money he won from me when I was fishing tournaments. I couldn't have donated to a more deserving guy.

God bless the Dyson Family.

Wow, I haven't been on the forum in a while and I just saw this. My heart is saddened. I have never even met Billy, but could tell from all the posts on here throughout the years, that he was truly a genuine guy. Reading JP's stories, makes it even harder. I know he is in a better place now and my prayers are with Kay and family. God bless a great man.

This is really saddening. My prayers and condolences go out to his friends and family. I didn�t know Billy, personally, but I know his reputation and it speaks volumes about the man and great angler he was. Lake Fork truly lost of of the legends!