Memorials › Billy Ray Klapper

Billy Ray Klapper

9 Apr 1937 – 10 Sep 2024

Birth9 Apr 1937
Death10 Sep 2024
CemeteryMemory Gardens of Pampa
Pampa , Gray County , Texas , USA
Added byArizonagraver on 15 Nov 2024
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/274554434

Bio

Billy Ray Klapper, legendary bit and spur maker, died on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at the age of 87, at his home in Pampa with his daughters by his side. Services will be at 2:00 PM on Friday, September 13, 2024 at Briarwood Church with Pastor Ronnie Ferguson, retired pastor, and Johnny Trotter, Billy's close friend, officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at the funeral home. Billy was born on April 9, 1937 in Lazare to Phillip and Minnie Gooding Klapper. He attended schools in Lazare and Quanah. After high school, Billy started working as a ranch hand at the Buckle L Ranch in Childress and later at the Y Ranch in Paducah. Billy spent a great deal of time with the famous bit and spur maker, Adolph Bayers, and in 1966 he made his first pair of spurs. Demand for Billy's spurs grew, and he started making gear full-time in 1968. He was well known in the ranching and cowboying industry and was one of the few bit and spur makers that still made one-piece spurs. Billy's bits and spurs are now collected worldwide. He made 682 different spur patterns and 816 different bit patterns. Billy was still working hard until the last couple months of his life and made his last pair of spurs in June of this year. Billy met Roberta Watson in Amarillo through mutual friends and the two were married on February 2, 1973. They were married until her passing on August 6, 2021. Billy and Roberta enjoyed participating in the Pony Express Races, watching horse races, hunting, and going to bit and spur shows all over the country. Billy was a hard-working, kind, and humble man. He will be deeply missed by all those that know him. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Roberta Klapper; his parents, Phillip and Minnie Klapper; and four siblings, Dorothy Goodson, Joe Klapper, Gene Klapper, and Johnnie Taylor. Billy is survived by his two daughters, Deborah Yeates and husband David of Victoria and Elizabeth Wilson of Palestine; six grandchildren, Rebecca Yeates, Darrel Yeates and wife Lauren, Mandy Wilson and husband James, Cody Ray Wilson and wife Christi, Dusty Wilson, and Drake Wilson and wife Brandy; nine great-grandchildren, Maddux Yeates, Daniel Yeates, Lacey Krawietz, Haylie Dixon, Hayden Dixon, Harlyn Ray Wilson, Gunner Wilson, Isabella Wilson, and Samantha Wilson; four stepchildren, Kathy Taylor and husband Charlie, Regina Dye, Glenda Briscoe, and Doug Watson; step-grandchildren, Autumn Sloan, Whitney Wagers, Dillon Dossey, Robby Briscoe, Lea Ann Joy, Terra Rhodes, Josalyn Penner, Shelton Watson, and Ricky Watson; and 23 step-great-grandchildren. Billy's pallbearers will be Cody Wilson, Dusty Wilson, Drake Wilson, Darrel Yeates, Hayden Dixon, and Robby Briscoe. The honorary pallbearers will be Maddux Yeates, Daniel Yeates, Gunner Wilson, Harlyn Wilson, Johnny Trotter, Cotton Elliott, Rick Crow, and Terry Stever. Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105 or the National Ranching Heritage Center, 3121 4th St, Lubbock, Texas, 79409.

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