Born on a small farm in very Rural Coffee County Alabama, Billy knew that life had to have something more for him in store so when the opportunity arose at just barely 18 years old and with only a few dollars in his pocket he hitched a ride with some family friends and made his way to Dade City in central Florida for a better life and existence and just maybe a grand adventure for a poor Alabama Farmers Son. He left for the land of Hills and Citrus groves where it was told that the Money was growing on the trees in the form of Orange acidy goodness and with endless opportunities for a better life and future.On Sunday February the 19th in the year 2023 at 8:45 PM Billy Ray Hattaway lost his fight to stay with his beloved family and went onto be with his departed family and wife in Heaven. He was surrounded by his Loving Family and friends in his home of 70 years who got to say their goodbyes and give him lots of hugs as he went on his last great and final adventure to glory.Growing up on a farm in Alabama was not always an easy one, plowing the fields by mule at an age when all you really wanted to do was climb trees and run across the fields to find someone to play with. Billy lost his Mother at just the age of 7 and his older Sister Cleo was left to Run the House and try to Raise Billy the best she could while all the Men, his Grandfather, Father and older Brother were out in the Fields Farming. Growing up in this hard life Billy knew life had to have something more, something hopefully better to offer, and it did.When Billy arrived in Florida he had a job with the friends that he came down with but he knew that he would need more, so he got a job at the Worlds Largest Citrus Packing Company, Lykes Pasco Packing where he would work very hard pulling double shifts and make his way up the ladder to a Salary position and solidify his career for a much better life for himself and his Family.Billys joy was to work hard and that was his life, yes you could say that was even his ethics his grit and who he was, he wasnt ever content with just sitting around doing nothing and that work grind and sheer will and determination to achieve even lead him to do a little farming on the side Growing watermelons and transporting them to market up in Georgia and had he not landed the good job at Lykes Pasco, who knows he probably would have become a Watermelon Farmer as his life here in Florida.After Billy Retired from Lykes after 38 years in the Citrus industry he worked a full Time career at his other passion The Family Floral Business, Bonita Flower Shop that was operated by his Wife Jewell and Family until he retired there at the ripe age of 89, yes Billy did live a life of work but he also had some fun along the way and his adventures were not finished.Billy found joy in work and Family and then Later in life he got into Hunting and Nature, he raised Walker Fox Hound dogs and would take them to the woods and compete in Field Trials, He never ever killed a deer in all his years of hunting but rumor has it that he never intended to or really even wanted to but he did enjoy being around all the friends he made and just being in the woods was such a joy to him and a relaxing peace that made Billy a little more carefree, yes indeed his Dogs and the woods made him a better man.Billy would do anything for his Family and his Only True Love his Wife Jewell, Billy and Jewell met at a Square Dancing night at the Local Armory at the age of 20 and fell in love, 8 years later and more secure they started a family and the rest is history.Billy and Jewell had 2 Children, Lisa Medley and Richard Harlow Hattaway, 2 Grandchildren Ashley Demaree and Keaton Hobbs, and 2 Great Grandchildren that he absolutely adored, Landry Jewels Demaree and Wren Olive Demaree.Billy loved people and had a zest for life, in his later years he would ride his trike along the bike path that went right by his home. He would meet people along the way with a smile on his face and have conversation with them, Billy truly never met a stranger..Billy found freedom in his Trike/bicycle and traveled all around on adventures from bike trail to bike trail, he rode all around his little town of Dade City and even went on an out of State epic bike RV trip with his Son to Michigan and beyond, lots of joy was had..In his later years He enjoyed Going with his Daughter Lisa out to eat and Shopping to Tampa where he would people watch and get to see all the change and growth that was happening around us and he really loved their trips every year to the beach and to his childhood home of AlabamaBilly had a passion for keeping his Lawn and house immaculate and shared that with his Daughter Lisa who would help him keep it in perfect order...Billy was loved far and wide, he had lots of Nieces and Nephews, Cousins and many Friends and he will be greatly missed by all who knew himA Celebration of life will be held onSunday March 26th 2023 from 12pm to 3pmat The Top Of The Town14144 8th Street Dade City, Fl 33525

The Top of the Town