Billy Sexton, 87 years of age, of Madisonville, passed from this life on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, in Nashville, Tenn.

He was born on Jan. 14, 1925, at Hardy, to parents Willie Sexton and Sylvia Cox Sexton. He has two brothers, Norman Sexton, of Oregon, and David Sexton, of California. His two sisters, Lillian Sexton Purdum and Phyllis Sexton Fickes, reside in Ohio.

Bill has two children from his first marriage, Pamela R. Sexton, of Allen, and James P. Sexton (Bridget), of Madisonville. He has three grandchildren, Stephen E. Branham Jr., of Elkhorn City, Jacquelyn J. Branham (Rafael Prieto), of Clarksville, Tenn., and Margo Branham (Casey Martin), of Lexington. He has one great-granddaughter, Ellie Branham-Martin, of Lexington. He is also survived by his best friend, his Chinese Pug, Buddy.

Most of his youth and young adult life was spent in Eastern Kentucky. He worked in the coal mines, worked for Joy Manufacturing Company, and began his own businesses, which were coal mining-related. He relocated to Madisonville in 1960, where he remained until his wife of 31 years, Nancy Brown Sexton, retired, and they began their life in their motor home.

He loved to travel and he loved being around water. His first career gave him the opportunity to travel across the United States. His second career began after his first retirement when he began selling boats for Kentuckiana Yacht Sales in Gilbertsville. This “job” gave him opportunities to travel on many lakes and rivers delivering boats.

He was a Kentucky Colonel and a member of the Richland Baptist Church.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at their home in Madisonville at 57 S Seminary on Dec. 30, from 2 until 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Odyssey Hospice, 1400 Donelson Pike, Ste. B-6, Nashville, TN 37217.