Billy Calvin McBay

Billy Calvin McBay, 86, of Newhope, passed away on Sunday, July 09, at 8:53 a.m. at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Little Rock. In poor health for the last several years, Bill had been living at the Dierks Health and Rehab. This past Wednesday his condition became worse following a heart attack and he gradually grew weaker.

Billy was born on October 05, 1936, to Samuel Wilburn McBay and Katie Mae (Shields) McBay on the McBay homestead about four miles southwest of Newhope. There he was raised until 1956 when he left Newhope for Camp Pendleton, California and joined the Marines. While stationed in California Bill met Gloria Jean Childs and on August 23, 1958, they were married in Sylmar, California.

Billy served three years in the Marines. After his service, Bill and Gloria moved to Wichita, Kansas, and started a family. Their two sons, Rocky and Ricky were both added to the family here. Several years later they moved to Beaver, Oklahoma, where their daughter, Billi, was born. In this time Billy had worked several jobs including a bread bakery and a butcher shop. In 1972 Bill purchased 40 acres of farmland 3 miles west of Newhope and relocated the family there. Back to his farming roots, Bill raised cattle and poultry until his retirement. Billy loved being on the farm keeping watch over his cows and also relaxing on the front porch.

In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by one sister, Johnnie Carolyn Williams.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Gloria, of Newhope; two sons Rocky McBay and his wife Janette, and Ricky McBay and wife Tina all of Newhope; one daughter BJ Donaldson and her husband George “Boots” Donaldson of Newhope; seven grandchildren Brent McBay of Decatur, AR; Seth McBay and his wife Rachel of Dierks; Dallas Young and wife Andrea of Glenwood; Bethany Hill and husband Alex of Bauxite; Tricia Hill and husband Mark of Dierks, Eric McBay and wife Allison of Murfreesboro; and Todd Young and wife Karli of Newhope; Four step-grandchildren Amanda Reid and husband Alex of Mineral Springs; Memory Donaldson of Hot Springs; George Donaldson and wife Erika of Point Cedar; Stephanie Ford and husband Andre of Newhope; five sisters Barbara Pearson of Tulsa; Edith Coffman and husband David of Newhope; Fran Baumgardner and husband Dan of Ossian, IN; Emma Nesbit of Sun City, AZ; and Millie Stoppenhagen of Noblesville, IN; and thirty great-grandchildren and four second-great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, July 13^th, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Liberty Cemetery with Bro. Raymond Dees officiating. 

Pallbearers will be Brent McBay, Seth McBay, Landon Young, Eric McBay, Todd Young, Mark Hill, and Alex Hill.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the loving staff at Dierks Health and Rehab and the staff at the Veterans Hospital.

Guest registry is at www.smithfamilycares.com.