Billie Lee Walker

     Billie Lee Walker, age 81, of Midland, formerly of Ithaca, MI, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2025, at his home. 
      Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, with Pastor Phil Maxwell officiating. Burial will take place at Hayes Road Cemetery, Gratiot County, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 2-8 P.M. with the family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home. 
     Billie was born in Alma, Michigan on May 8, 1944, the son of Russell M. and Alma (Litwiller) Walker. Billie married Shirley Chapin on October 18, 2003, at the Midland Missionary Church. He proudly served in the Army National Guards for 6 years, and was in the 1967 Detroit Riot.
     Billie spent most of life working in the petroleum business throughout Michigan. He worked in sales as well as fixed many pumps or built gas stations. He also ran the FARGO gas station in Ithaca for several years. He was incredibly handy, he could handle almost any project- electrical work, plumbing, construction, you name it- and he even built the family home. Kirk or Breven could call him anytime for advice, and he would patiently walk them through a project step by step until it was done. He will be remembered for his trademark response whenever he was asked how he was doing: "Super." 
      In his spare time, he enjoyed helping local farmers fix their pumps at their farm. His grandsons enjoyed going with him on calls on the weekends and his brother-in-law Dan Foster also helped out. In addition, Bill enjoyed hunting on the family property and taking trips out west. If he wasn’t hunting, he loved his annual fishing trip to Drummond Island, with friends and family. In later years, he looked forward to his annual walleye fishing trip on the great lakes with family.
      He treasured spending time with family meeting every weekend for coffee and breakfast as well as spending time attending his grandkids sporting and school events and even going to watch the Detroit Tigers or MSU football and basketball games. He is survived by his wife Shirley Walker of Midland, MI; his children: Kirk and Amy Walker of Ithaca, MI; Kimberly and Patrick Janicek of Corunna, MI; Robert Woodard of Midland, MI; and Kimberley Woodard of Dallas, TX, his grandchildren: Holly and Conner Fairchild, Breven Walker, Grant Janicek, Rebecca Woodard, Amanda Woodard, and Nicholas Scalia, and his great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Adalyn, Amara, and Milah. He is also survived by his siblings: Linda Foster and Patty Walker. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers: Richard & Russell Dean Walker, his brother-in-law Dan Foster, and his father and mother-in-law Robert & Gladys Chapin.
      Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.