Billie F. Hightower of Midland, TX and formerly of Fort Worth passed away on December 14, 2014. Memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, December 20, 2014 at First Christian Church in Midland. It would please Billie if you wore TCU purple to her service. The flag at TCU will be flown at half-mast in Billie’s honor.Billie was born April 2, 1928 in Westbrook, TX to Robert and Hazel Smith Hightower. She spent most of her formative years in Longview, TX and graduated from Pine Tree High School in 1945.She entered Parkland Hospital School of Nursing in Dallas in 1946 and graduated in 1949. During her professional career as a nurse she was employed at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas; Medical Center Hospital in Odessa; Carlsbad Memorial Hospital in Carlsbad, NM; Sequoia District Hospital in Redwood City, CA; Midland Memorial Hospital where she was chosen Nurse of the Year by her colleagues; and at All Saints Episcopal Hospital in Fort Worth where she was also chosen Nurse of the Year. She was the House Supervisor at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland and she was on the teaching faculty at All Saints Vocational Nursing and the Obstetrics Supervisor at All Saints Episcopal Hospital in Fort Worth.Billie entered Texas Christian University’s Harris College of Nursing in 1968 and completed her Bachelor of Nursing degree in December 1972. She was hired immediately by Dean Jarrett to join the faculty for the next year. Then Billie returned to school to complete her Masters of Maternal Child Health. Following the completion of her Master’s Degree at Texas Woman’s University in Denton and Houston, she returned to the nursing faculty at TCU for the next twenty-four years. She truly loved teaching the students and the people at the clinical sites in Fort Worth’s major hospitals where she practiced during her tenure at TCU. She retired as an Emeritus Professor from TCU in 1993.She served on the TCU Athletic Committee, which was one of her passions. Her retirement party was held in the TCU Letterman’s Lounge. GO FROGS!Billie was a member of the following organizations: Texas Nurses Association, NAACOG, AAUW, Sigma Theta Tau (Nurses Honor Society) and the TCU Frog Club.She is survived by lifetime friend Patsy Hill. Additional special and supportive friends are Celia Harris of Midland; Ann and Charles Richards of La Junta, CO; Jerry Beth Layton of Southlake, TX; and Judy Malloy of Florida.Family survivors include sister, Robbie Fellows of Marfa, TX; brother, William Hightower and wife Beth of Tulsa, OK; nieces, Frances Fellows of Marfa, TX and Kim Groves of Florida; nephews, Robert Fellows Jr. and wife Marlene of Del Rio, TX ; Samuel Fellows and wife Rhonda of Prosper, TX; William Fellows and wife Robin of Marfa, TX; Bret V. Hightower and wife Theresa of Oklahoma; Thomas and John Robert Hightower of Tulsa, OK; Bob Burleson and wife Nancy of New Braunfels, TX; Don Burleson and wife Rose of Florida and Vaughn Burleson of Jasper, TX.She is preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Bob Fellows of Marfa.Billie was known as the caregiver of the family. Her quick smile and kind ways will be greatly missed by those who love her.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to University Advancement, Harris College of Nursing (Nursing Program) TCU, Box 297044 Fort Worth, TX; Juliet Fowler Communities (Tammy Vines, Director of Community Relations), 1234 Abram Rd, Dallas, TX 75214; or Hospice of Midland 911 W Texas Ave, Midland, TX 79701.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made to www.npwelch.com.,
