
William Baggett Busa
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William Baggett Busa passed away in his sleep on Thursday, February 3, 2022. He was born on August 17, 1930, to Jack and Mary Busa in Mercedes, Texas. Billy grew up in nearby Harlingen, where he attended school and made many lifelong friends. He attended Texas A&M University in College Station and moved back to the Valley to begin working with his uncle John McKelvey and father in the family business, McKelvey Industries. Billy soon met and married the love of his life, Connye Casey, in 1958, and they started a family and a life devoted to each other. He continued working in the family business, meeting many people, partners, and friends, and headed up Laurel Park Shopping Center, where he oversaw operations, Little Creek Motel, and numerous real estate transactions. Billy and Connye spent their summers in South Padre Island and eventually moved there full time in the late eighties while Billy continued to work in Harlingen. Years later, the couple moved to Austin to be near their grandchildren.
Left to cherish his memory are his son Billy Jr. and wife Marla; daughters Connye Jean Busa and Trish McConnico and husband Kit; grandchildren Alice Rose Prosperi, Jack Busa, Amelia McConnico, Vance McConnico, Olivia Simmons and husband Jeff, and James Hall; brother-in-law's wife Trudie Abbott; nieces Sarah Solomon, Mary Jornayvaz and husband Paul, Patty Compton and husband Mike, Pam Voss and husband Chris, and Mary Cable and husband Chad; nephews Cole Abbott and wife Allison and Robert Fowler and wife Amy; great- grandchild Henry Simmons, and numerous friends whom he loved so dearly.
Billy is preceded in death by his loving wife Connye (who passed almost seven months earlier to the day); parents Jack and Mary Busa; his sister Jane McGill and husband Joe; his in-laws James and Fanny Casey; his sister-in-law Patsy Abbott and husband Jim.
Billy was a generous man who found joy in helping others. He never met a stranger and had a way with people that made them feel special. Billy supported his community and church—he was a member of the board of directors of the Chapel By the Sea on South Padre Island—and devoted countless hours lifting up others through his words of encouragement and kind deeds. He was known as Billy, Dad, Big Billy, Uncle Billy, and GrandBill—the last so fitting as he did everything in a larger-than-life way. Billy enjoyed hunting and fishing—he was a fantastic guide—and engineering wonderful trips to Mexico with friends and family. He was an excellent chef, entertainer, and storyteller. Billy loved a great steak and fried oysters, winning a hand of Gin Rummy, making a birdie, learning to fly and making his first solo flight, catching the one that almost got away, taking a long uninterrupted nap, playing washers on the beach, traveling throughout Mexico and Europe with his family and friends, and singing at church. But what he loved most was Connye—they were soul mates—and he is with her again now. Thank you, dear Lord, for providing us with the opportunity to know and love Billy. He brought us all so much joy and zest for life.
A memorial service is pending. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Chapel By the Sea, PO Box 2478, South Padre Island, Texas, 78597; Tarrytown United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 2601 Exposition Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703; or a charity of choice.
