Billy Joe Rush

March 19, 1937 - September 27, 2021

Funeral services for BILLY JOE RUSH, 84, will be held at 10am Friday, October 1, 2021 at East Gate Baptist Church with Pastor Tim Sparks officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Billy died September 27, 2021 at Goshen Healthcare Community. Visitation will be Thursday at the funeral home from 3pm to 5pm and the casket will be open prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are by the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com. Billy Joe was born March 19, 1937 at home near Clyde, Missouri to Laura Marie (Lockhart) and Cleo William Martin Rush. Bill attended the local Mozingo Valley Grade School and Pickering High School in Missouri. He came to Wyoming August of 1955 where he worked as a driller for Joy Drilling with his brother Richard Rush from 1955 to 1958. This job took him to the Dakotas for iron and to Michigan for salt. He later worked ranches and farms in the Moore Springs, Goshen County area. Bill went to work as a lineman for Niobrara Electric from 1962 to 1071. Like a number of others locals, he played and Indian in the Rawhide Pageant in 1961. In September of 1958 he married Carol Hoy. Bill and Carol had two sons, Tod E. Rush (Leann) and Stanley D. Rush (Jackie). He farmed just south of Gleaner’s Union from 1971 until 1986. Bill and Carol were later divorced. Bill married Emma Jane Holeman in June of 1981. He and Emma made their home on the farm for three and a half years. They moved to PV Bar Estates in 1986. Bill also started working for the town of Torrington electrical department until 1997. In 1997 he was injured at work and lost his right leg. His wife Emma passed away in November 2013. He and Emma were parents to many foster children. Bill married a lifelong friend, Betty Greene January 1, 2015. They enjoyed travel, family and friendship until his death. Billy is survived by his sisters Mary (Kay) Brown and Marilyn McKay; his wife Betty; his sons; and many grand and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers (Ted) Marion, (Harold) Richard, Robert Merlin Rush; and sister (Vivian) Ruth Ogier.