William "Bill" Wray Love

William “Bill” Wray Love, age 81 years young, retired oil industry upper management and resident of Montgomery, Texas passed away peacefully, Tuesday, December 5, 2017 after a brief illness and hospital stay.

Mr. Love was born in Wichita, Kansas on July 7, 1936 to Almyra Frances Dameier Love and William “Wray” Love. He grew up in Salem, Illinois where he excelled in sports and was on the 1953 State Championship Salem High School football team and track relay team. Bill went to the University of Arkansas where he graduated with a degree in geology. There he met and married his first love, Mary Margaret Winfrey Love of Somerville, TN, who so unexpectedly died July 11, 1987. Bill and Mary Margaret had a daughter Amy while living in Kilgore, Texas. They later lived in Houston, Texas for many years. Bill and Mary Margaret years ago bought an old family home, the old Burtis-Sessum’s place in Somerville, Tennessee, and they spent a lifetime of family visits to Fayette County and the Winfrey home place of Chestnut Hill. Bill’s career in the oil industry was long and illustrious beginning with Dowell Ep/ArCO. He presided over GAL/HOU, then was with Brandt worldwide. He worked with Tuboscope and completed his career with Varco. He held several patents and wrote a book on liquid-solid separation in regards to drilling.

Bill’s passion was travel and he travelled the world many times over. He could greet you in at least 10 different languages and toast you in as many. In his travels, Bill truly connected with the places, the history, the culture, and the people he met. In 2000, Bill wed his second wife, Dr. Rita Rae Fontenot in an underwater ceremony. Bill and Rita Rae built a home in Panama where he became a pensionata and lived the island life for a few years. He was into scuba, skiing, para-gliding, he loved family genealogy and history, and enjoyed fine scotch, MALBEC, champagne, music, coin collecting, dinosaurs and football. He had many friends in all walks of life across the globe. He was the kindest man, the finest gentleman and a wonderful father. Above all, he loved his daughter Amy – from following her successful softball career (which he helped coach with the formation of Houston HITS) to her golf achievements to her love of Snoopy. The man was a die-hard Republican.

He is preceded in death by his father, William Wray Love and his mother, Alymra Dameier Love; his first wife, Mary Margaret Winfrey Love; brother-in-law, Whitson Winfrey of Somerville, TN; and an infant daughter. He is survived by his daughter, Amy Love Doyal (Craig) of Montgomery, TX; sister-in-law, Laura B. Winfrey; niece, Laura Lillian Winfrey; nephews, Hunter Winfrey (Madeline) of Somerville, TN and Whit Winfrey, Jr. (Donna) of Germantown, TN. Grandchildren are Lindsey and Jennifer Doyal of Montgomery, TX, Brian (Ashley) Doyal of Austin, TX and great granddaughters, Laylee Wood and Ruby Doyal. Bill Love and Rita Rae Fontenot continued to travel the world for 17 years.

Services were held at 2 P.M. at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville, Tennessee on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The Reverend Doctor Ted Dennis of First Presbyterian Church of Somerville was officiating. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - Main Chapel of Somerville.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Eric Provost, Gooch King, John King, Dr. Robert Winfrey, Hunter Winfrey and Whitson Winfrey, Jr. Honorary pallbearers were Allen King, Lyle Reid, June Walker, Dr. Arthur Walker and Charlie Webb.