Mr. Billy Vernon Bray, age 87 of Sparta, passed away Friday morning, March 20, 2026 at his residence surrounded by his family.

Billy was born November 10, 1938 in Sparta, Tennessee to the late William Chester Dow Bray and Mandy Livine LaFever Bray. He was a retired carpenter that specialized in Pole Barns. Since an early age, he has been an avid outdoorsman, loving to hunt and fish. He enjoyed deer hunting in White County and made several trips to Colorado for Elk hunting. When he was not in the woods or on the water, he could be found working in his garden or tending to his cattle or his bird houses for Martins.

In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his wife Wilma Joyce LaFever Bray who died April 15, 2024; son in law Daryl Hickey and seven siblings.

Survivors include his two daughters, Donna Hickey, Pam Moore and husband Jeff

Sisters: Shirley Burdette and Dean Snyder

Brother: Gene Bray

The family would like to add a special thank you to Shirley LaFever for the care she gave during Billy's illness

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00pm Monday, March 23, 2026 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Saylors Cemetery. The family will receive friends after 11:00am Monday at Hunter Funeral Home. Lamar Redmond will officiate.

Lamar Redmond, Arnold Elrod, Luke Nash, Dale Spivey, Matthew Bray and Donnie Green will serve the family as pallbearers.