Billy Joe Paulk, Sr.

Billy Joe Paulk, Sr. passed away at his residence on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

Joe was born to Wade and Lois Paulk on October 20, 1945 in Sweetwater, Texas. He spent his childhood and youth in Sweetwater, Cleburne, Clyde, and Abilene, graduating from Abilene High School in 1963.
He spent his childhood and youth helping his father who owned a plumbing business. When Joe was 20 years old, he obtained his Master Plumbing License which he kept on active status through continued education, seminars, and annual testing. He maintained this active status until his retirement in March, 2022 at the age of 76.

During his early adult years, Joe travelled all around Texas with his older brothers, completing projects that required them to install complete plumbing systems for government housing projects. They did the same work for a high-rise hotel that was built by the Hemisphere in San Antonio, a surgical wing at Hendrick Hospital in Abeline, and numerous office complexes, restaurants, schools, universities, and churches.

In 1985 Joe started his own plumbing business in Canyon, Action Plumbing. His yellow page ad said, "We make you plumb happy." The business remained very active in serving Canyon and the surrounding area until health issues caused him to retire in March, 2022. One of his dearest friends from this time was Sister Mary Hawkins at St. Benedict Monastery. She and Joe spent many hours planning every detail regarding the plumbing issues as the monastery was being constructed. This was true of many of Joe's customers- they were his friends as well as plumbing customers.

Visiting with customers, friends, and family was a favorite pastime of Joe's. He had many close calls with injuries and accidents as a child and a youth, but he survived them all with divine providence. Joe talked to Celinda about how angels sometimes visited him during some of his stressful stays at hospitals and memory care facilities during the past year. He always loved and trusted the Lord and told of an instance when Jesus came and sat with him in his hospital room in the middle of the night and gave him a feeling of comfort when he was feeling confused.

Joe and Celinda met in 1993 and married in 2001. After she retired in 2002 from her career of being a special education teacher for 32 years, Celinda became even more involved in dealing with the business aspects of business. Billy Joe and Celinda Lou enjoyed taking many RV trips throughout the United States. They were always accompanied by their furry friends, "Peppy Joe" and "Penny Lou," their rescue dogs of many years.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and 3 of his brothers, J.W., Leonard, and Eddy. Survivors include his wife, Celinda; 2 sisters, Kathryn Blackford of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Maragret Peters of Abilene, Texas; his brother, Roy Gene Paulk and wife Kay, of Canyon; 2 sons, Billy Joe Paulk Jr. and wife Shannon of Lacy, Washington and Stephen Paulk of Hurst, Texas. Surviving Joe are also his 3 daughters: Shaunah Johnston and husband Trae of Amarillo, Texas, Shea Craig of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Samantha Bartley of Lumberton, Texas.

Joe is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Also very close to him since 1993, were Celinda's daughters, Denaé Rickenbacker and Lacey Stone and their families.

Many heartfelt thanks and much love are extended to Nohemi Bibiano for her loving devotion and care during the past year.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Amarillo SPCA, P.O. Box 1014, Amarillo, Texas 79105, the High Plains Food Bank, P.O. Box 31803, Amarillo, Texas, 79102, or Faith City Mission, P.O. Box 870, Amarillo, Texas, 79105.