Billie Frances Tarver Bacle

Billie Frances Tarver Bacle arrived in heaven on Saturday, September 13, 2025. She was born on August 2, 1942, and was the daughter and firstborn child of Bill Tarver and Katherine Hamilton Pate. She grew up in Monroe, Louisiana, alongside her brothers Charlie and John and several beloved cousins. Growing up, she loved fishing, sewing, reading, and singing. She was a graduate of Ouachita High School and later an honor graduate at NLU (now ULM), where she performed as a Warbonnette while earning her degree in business. While working for State Farm in Monroe, LA, Billie met her husband, Garry. After marrying, they moved to Haughton, Louisiana, where together they raised three children, Jerry, Becky, and Randy.

Billie had a tremendous work ethic and was a highly regarded and accomplished paralegal with a career spanning over 30 years. She retired from the Blanchard Walker Law firm in 2016 after a successful and fulfilling career that she loved.

She was a devoted wife and mother. She and Garry celebrated 54 years of marriage in May 2025. She loved Garry selflessly and served him graciously until she no longer had the physical strength to do so. She prioritized teaching her children to honor God and serve others. She prayed for her children and grandchildren faithfully and looked for opportunities to encourage each of them in their individual gifts.

Billie had a deep faith in Jesus Christ that fueled her love of service to her church and the children of her community. After moving to Haughton in 1976, Garry and Billie joined First Baptist Church of Haughton. Over the years, she would lead countless children to Christ as she taught children’s choir, vacation Bible School, and Sunday School. She loved music and worshipping and could be seen faithfully each Sunday singing her heart out at First Baptist Haughton. After retiring from children’s ministry, Billie would go on to teach the widows' class. She had a tremendous understanding of the scripture and enjoyed studying and preparing her Bible study each week. Billie loved supporting Operation Christmas Child each year and knitted baby hats all year long to include in the gift boxes sent to poor children around the world. Additionally, she found great joy in mentoring young women in their faith and served as a host mother in the Heart to Home ministry at First Baptist Haughton.

Billie joyfully waits in heaven for her loved ones she’s left behind. She is survived by her husband, Garry; her daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca(Becky) and Tim Lewis; her son and daughter-in-law, David (Randy)and Andrea Bacle; her grandchildren, Grant and Garrett Lewis, and Birdie and Winston Bacle; her brother, Charles and his wife, Anne; John Tarver and his wife, Elizabeth; sisters-in-law, Claudine Strickland, Linda Ezell and husband, Jimmy; six nephews; seven nieces; seven great nephews; five great-nieces; several close cousins, many lifelong friends and her church family of First Baptist Haughton. She was preceded in death by her father, Bill Tarver; mother, Katherine Hamilton Pate, and her firstborn son, Jerry.

Her family wishes to thank the numerous friends and family that have demonstrated their love and faithfulness to Billie as she completed her battle with dementia. Additionally, they would like to thank the loving staff at Pilgrim Manor and her hospice caregivers at Compassus.

A funeral service for Billie will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Haughton, 105 E. Washington Ave., Haughton, Louisiana. A private graveside service will follow. A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Officiating the service will be Pastor Gevan Spinney.

Her family asks that you consider a donation to Operation Christmas Child, www.samaritanspurse.org>occ, in her honor and continue her legacy of leading children to a life-changing faith in Jesus Christ.

Honoring Billie as pallbearers will be Randy Bacle, Winston Bacle, Tim Lewis, Grant Lewis, Garrett Lewis, and Chris Saucier. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Carey Winters, Jerry Houston, James Russell, Larry Farmer, Danny Dean, Britt Green, Steve Netherton, Ken Mason, and Carl Mayer.