Billie Jean Apple

Billie Jean Sneed Apple went to sleep and woke up to our Lord on the morning of Friday, July 28, 2023. Billie, the oldest of four, was born on March 10, 1935 to Birdie Smith Sneed and Malcolm Hornsby Sneed, Sr. in Natchitoches, LA. On December 7, 1956, she married the love of her life, C.L. "Boots" Apple, with whom she would have three girls. For thirty years, she enjoyed teaching at Saint Joseph Catholic School, where she would also become a parishioner.
During her childhood and for the rest of her life, she was very close with her siblings, Sluggo, Doll, and Jessie. Growing up in a big family provided Billie with a wonderful community of fourteen aunts and uncles with 40+ first cousins, something that would continue in her lineage, including her three daughters and ten grandchildren. Her parents worked in the oil industry, so Billie, along with her siblings and parents, made their home in many towns in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Billie was a proud graduate of C. E. Byrd High School (class of 1953) where many of her cousins attended.
Her childhood was filled with travels across the country during the West-coast gold rush and Texas oil boom. After a large mission in Gold Beach, Oregon failed to turn up gold, the family made their luck when Birdie opened Birdie's Café, resourcefully using her cooking and baking skills. During the advent of World War II, the Sneeds returned to Shreveport to be closer to family. Birdie relocated the café and later helped Malcolm and his brothers drill wells in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. One of Billie's fondest memories was riding the train to Hornsby's Bend (Austin, TX) to visit cousins every summer, a tradition she continued with her children.
After high school, Billie attended Texas Christian University, graduating in three years with a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1956. Although she originally chose TCU for its lack of Greek life, she eventually pledged ADPI after TCU allowed sororities on campus her first year. Her time at TCU paved the way for twelve future Horned Frogs, including her three daughters, nieces, and grandson.
After graduating from TCU, Billie switched tracks and went into the oil industry. This turned out to be the best decision of her life because, while sitting in an office waiting for a job interview, she met Clarence Leslie "Boots" Apple, Jr. Following a whirlwind six-week courtship, Billie and Boots married on December 7, 1956 at Kings Highway Christian Church in Shreveport, beginning their marriage of forty-six years.
Shortly after they married, Billie and Boots moved to Venezuela for Boots' job as a petroleum engineer. A Venezuelan doctor, delighted by Billie's deep Southern accent, hired her to tutor his daughters in English. So engaged in their new life together, Boots and Billie soon forgot to call any relatives back home. After two months of not hearing from them, Birdie hired a private detective to check on them. Turns out-everything was fine.
For the next few years, Boots worked as a petroleum engineer, which required moving every six months. Their firstborn, Cindy, was born in Lafayette; Sandra was born in New Orleans; Susan was born in Shreveport, the final transfer location for Boots' job. Billie and Boots decided to make 381 Albany in Shreveport their permanent home.
Billie began teaching in 1968 at St Paul's Day School. Two years later, she began a storied and fruitful teaching career at St Joseph Catholic School as a kindergarten teacher, a vocation generously supported by Boots. He was fond to say that she had the privilege to teach "the leaders of tomorrow." Many would talk about how she would adopt whole families, not only the students in her class. Her class field trips included garage sales to Atlantic Avenue and excursions to see Christmas decorations at her sister Jessie's house.
When Father Murray Clayton would bring disabled children from Latin America to Shriner's Hospital for surgery, he would ask Billie if they could attend her class. She invariably said yes, and many would leave her class speaking fluent English. She also became known for her medical advice for students, unsolicited or not, so much so that upon her retirement, her colleagues joked that Shreveport pediatricians would be relieved.
Billie gave tremendous effort and energy to her teaching career and touched hundreds of lives. She always believed in doing what is best for the child, even if it meant the teacher and parent had to go the extra mile. Billie and Boots also believed in Christian education so that children could develop their God-given talents. This dedication also motivated their vocation as parents-they helped Cindy and Sandra with their teaching in Christian schools and assisted Susan with establishing her dress manufacturing business.
She retired from teaching in 2000 to spend more time with her family after Boots began experiencing health difficulties.
Billie walked in faith. She grew up going to the Disciples of Christ Church and Baptist Church services with her grandmother, Willie Mae Smith. When she married Boots, she decided to become an Episcopalian so the family could attend church together. Years of teaching at St Joseph Catholic School called her to convert to Catholicism at the age of 78. She would be received into the Church at Saint Joseph and would make it her home parish. Years before her conversion to Catholicism, she already believed strongly in Christian education, sending her daughters to Saint Joseph Catholic School, Saint Vincent's Academy, and TCU. During her life, she developed a strong devotion to the Holy Family–Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
One of Billie's greatest joys in life was talking on the phone. Friends and family called her for advice, seeking her unconventional wisdom for many of life's biggest challenges. She was the first to buck the system, have an unorthodox opinion, and think outside the box. Billie Apple-isms included "offer it up" (letting it go) and "that's just Billie Apple talking." A professed expert in sports medicine, education (all levels), pediatric health, politics, and all topics in religion and spirituality, she never shied away from offering her opinion. Her entrepreneurial spirit also shone through her advice, as she would often recommend the importance of risk-taking-something she took from her childhood panning for gold and later applied to helping Boots drill oil wells, establish Apple Petroleum, and start another business Smell Repel.
381 Albany had an inviting front porch, welcoming a steady flow of neighbors and family. Providing shade and respite from the beaming Louisiana heat, Billie and Boots' front porch, large pecan tree, and iced tea were a welcome break from everyday stresses. Through near-ceremonial conversation, guests would catch up and iron out the wrinkles of their lives, always leaving with a sense of belonging. Billie was not one to hold back her opinions, which made for all the better discussion. Billie would bring this sense of community wherever she went, carrying her curiosity and care with her by immersing herself in the daily lives of her family and friends. She would remember the names and details of those once strangers to the point where she became known wherever she went.
Billie's hospitality for her front porch also extended to the rest of her house. Because she never knew who was going to join for dinner, Billie would cook large pots of red beans and rice and chicken and dumplings. There were also always at least a couple of projects occurring: sewing, cooking, decorating gingerbread houses, and refinishing furniture. Finding blue icing on the kitchen ceiling or fabric spread from the front to back door was to be expected. These little projects were a way of life and never bothered her for a minute. Hours were spent making holiday sugar cookies, constructing gingerbread houses, and making homemade pasta noodles. Many homecoming and prom festivities commenced in her kitchen. At times the kitchen became a testing ground for the newest and latest things, including colored contacts, Barbie clothes, Easy Bake ovens, and Boots' Smell Repel business. Her children loved her playroom, filled with Fisher Price toys, as well as her double front yard, which was often filled with games of Red Rover or tag football.
Billie and Boots' backyard was even more adventurous. One could find a garden, chicken coop, and air trolley. The chicken coop housed at one time not only chickens, ducks, and turkeys but also two monkeys gifted by a cousin who visited Africa. Perhaps the most infamous pet was a talking crow who, because of frequent attempts to fly above children playing outside, spent a night in jail. More than once a beloved pet was dropped off on the front porch in need of a home. She always took it in. It was typical to see a motley crew of ferociously loyal dogs, such as Charlie, Beau, Romeo, Lucky, George, and Scout, lining her wrought iron Albany gate.
Billie along with her siblings Doll, Sluggo, and Jessie helped host and plan wedding and baby showers, backyard weddings, Fourth of July festivities, the Sneed Christmas Tree, and family reunions. Billie and Boots enjoyed many adventures with cousin, Gene Smith, and his wife, Sue Smith.
Billie was a loyal wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, teacher, risk-taker, free-spirit, hostess, consultant, force, contrarian, entrepreneur, caretaker, and disciple. She will be greatly missed.
Billie is survived by her three daughters, Cynthia "Cindy" Apple Hobgood, Sandra Apple Stewart and her husband, Brady, and Susan Apple Graass and her husband, Jim; her grandchildren, Mary Jane Lance and husband, Sam, John Henry Hobgood, Leslie Elizabeth Hobgood, Brady Marshall Stewart III, John Wesley Stewart, Andrew James Stewart, James Henry Graass, Jr. and his wife, Morgan, Catherine Elizabeth Graass, John Thomas Graass, and Benjamin Michael Graass; her great-grandchildren, Samuel Rhodes Lance and Hadley Jane Lance; sisters, Jessie Ann Matthews, and Lottie "Doll" Mae Burk and her husband, Dave; and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Leslie "Boots" Apple, Jr.; her parents, Birdie Smith Sneed and Malcolm Hornsby Sneed, Sr.; and her brother, Malcolm Hornsby Sneed, Jr.
Our family would like to express our gratitude to Cindy Apple Hobgood for honoring Billie's wishes to be cared for in her home. With few resources, Cindy pulled together a healthcare team and did the impossible. Gratitude is also extended to the Christus Hospice team (specifically Dr. Massingill, Terry, Debbie, Chaplain Woody, Chaplain Austin, Cynthia, Ashley, and Dee Allen). We also wish to thank Paul Tuminello for bringing her the Blessed Sacrament every week, a great consolation during her last weeks.
A funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church and a burial at Rosemont Cemetery in Wichita Falls, Texas. On Saturday, August 5, 2023, a visitation will take place at 11:00 a.m. followed by a memorial Mass at 12:00 noon at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. A reception at the Family Life Center at Saint Joseph will follow the mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the Monsignor Murray Clayton Scholarship Fund at Saint Joseph Catholic School in Shreveport, Louisiana or the charity of the donor's choice.