Obituary of Billy Joe Poland

July 4, 1938 - January 6, 2026

Billy Joe Poland was born on July 4th, 1938, and awoke in heaven on January 5th, 2026, at the age of 87 years and 6 months at his home in Buna, Texas, surrounded by loved ones.

Funeral service will be 3:00 pm, Thursday, January 8, 2026 at FIrst Baptist Church in Buna with burial at Antioch Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm, prior to service.

Born in Grayburg, Texas, to Odessa and James Poland, he called Buna his home for more than 69 years.

He married Patricia Ann Richardson on August 9th, 1962, and was blessed with 64 years of marriage. He welcomed two children, Dana Jo Poland Burke and Billy Mark Poland, to the family. He retired from Temple Inland to begin his most important career, working for Mrs. Pat at Home Grown Kids.

He gave his heart to Christ at an early age and grew into a loving, caring family man who looked forward to family gatherings and events. Although he was a quiet man, he was quite the jokester and loved scaring countless family and friends as they entered his home. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to camp, hunt, and fish, and spent many enjoyable hours doing so. He was also a dedicated collector of “things”, especially antiques and caps. He looked forward to traveling and was always ready to pull out of the drive, map in hand.

He is preceded in death by his brothers, Gilbert Keith Poland, Elton Glenn Poland, and Wayne Eli Poland; his parents, James Eli Poland, Odessa Poland Lane, and George Edward Lane; and his grandson, Chadd Daniel Burke.

He leaves many family members and friends with the fondest of memories: wife Patricia Ann Poland of Buna, Son Billy Mark Poland and wife Tracy of Buna, daughter Dana Jo Poland Burke and husband Ricky of Buna, granddaughters Kelsey Pickens and Daniel of Pearland, Robin Flowers and Jeremy of Buna, Cassie Rife and Dustin of Buna, Brylee Poland of Buna and Nikki Uribe and Crawford of Silsbee, along with great grandchildren Claire and Natalie Uribe, Kylee, Sophia, and Levi Flowers, and Dixie and Blayke Rife and many nieces and nephews.

He was truly one of the good ones, and we were blessed to call him ours.