William "Bill" Liles, Sr.

William LeGran Liles Sr., passed away on June 6th, 2020 at Christus St. Elizabeth's Hospital. He was 93. William, known as Bill, was born on a small farm in Johnston County, Oklahoma, to Ray Liles and Grace DaVault Liles, both deceased, on December 29th, 1926. He had one older sister, Jean B. Liles Lewis, deceased. He was married to Mildred Thornton Liles, deceased, and together they had three children: William LeGran Liles Jr. (Scooter) and wife Patti, of Dripping Springs, Texas, Dianna Victoria Smith and husband Trubie, of Vidor, Texas, and Michael Ray Liles and wife Sue of Wild Wood, Texas. He leaves behind these grandchildren: Stephen Liles and wife Gina of Pearland, Kristin Smith Tate and husband John of Katy, Texas, Jason Liles and wife Rebecca of Iowa, LA, Joshua Liles and wife Ashley of Palestine, Texas, Kristopher Liles and wife Melinda of Houston, Elizabeth Kate-Erin (Katie) Smith Williams and husband Clifton of Beaumont, Jennifer Paige Smith Janecek and partner Josh Larson of Beaumont, and Kelly Grace Liles of Houston. Great-Grandchildren are: Kennedy and Presley Smith, Abby and Hunter Liles, Winston and Wilder Liles, Drew, Beau, and Samantha Williams, and Kellen Janecek and father, Gary Janecek. He has one niece, Linda Lewis of Kansas, as well as cousins in Oklahoma and Texas. And a special "grandson", Phillip Brent spent many a day in the Liles household.
Though Bill lost his father to cancer when he was 19, he continued his education at Murray Jr. College in Oklahoma, graduating, and onward to Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State. He believed strongly in education. He began work in the oil fields for the Texas Pipe Line/Texaco in Midland, Texas. After a few years he began work for Mobil Oil there. In 1961, he transferred to Mobil Chemical, now Exxon-Mobile Chem in Beaumont, TX and moved his family to Vidor, Texas. He wanted to be near a college and his wife Mildred, returned to college to complete a Bachelor in Education and teaching degree. Later, he provided college educations for his three children and helped to send his grandchildren to college with six of the eight graduating from universities.
Bill loved the outdoors, had many vegetable gardens and enjoyed camping and fishing trips. He and his wife, Mildred, enjoyed touring the United States when ever possible. They also enjoyed playing dominoes and bridge with their friends and family. He also enjoyed sports, especially baseball. He always followed the Astros, religiously. He was a little league coach and umpire and then helped to build and organized the Pony-Colt Fields in Vidor and became the organization's first President. He also was a member of the Vidor Lion's Club for many years. Bill was a member of First Baptist Church of Vidor. After the loss of his wife, Mildred, he chose to live his last five years under assisted living care at Lucas House in Beaumont. We wish to thank all the nurses and caretakers who have worked so hard, especially Maria and Chennile of Lucas and Latishia Simeon, private aide. I also wish to thank his dear friends Sandra and John Hamilton who assisted him in many ways over the years. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 9, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m at Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor with funeral services at 1:00 p.m. Entombment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park.