Funeral services for Billy Gene Brown, 83, of Marshall, TX, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 16, 2015 in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Algoma Cemetery North. A time of visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at Downs Funeral Home. Mr. Brown passed away July 13, 2015 in Marshall. Billy Gene Brown was born November 25, 1931, in Marshall, Texas to Charles Daniel Brown, Sr. and Robbie Mozelle Wise Brown. He was a graduate of Marshall High School with the Class of 1951. Mr. Brown served his country in the U.S. Army and then in the Reserves. He served his apprenticeship with T & P Railroad until 1961 as a sheet metal worker. Mr. Brown also worked for 16 years with Trailmobile, owned B & B Welding for a number of years and worked for Snider Lumber Yard. He was a lifelong member of the Local Union for Millwrights, Local # 764, Shreveport, LA. He did construction as a millwright through the Local Union. In 1997, Mr. Brown retired as shop foreman for TMSI in Longview. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to deer and duck hunt, as well as fishing and gardening. Mr. Brown was a 32nd Degree Mason with the Marshall Masonic Lodge #22 for 42 years, member of Scottish Rite of Dallas, Valley of Orient, life member of BPOE Elks, and a member of Summit United Methodist Church of Marshall. He enjoyed taking care of the home place, the farm and cows. He enjoyed family, friends and fishing with the boys. Mr. Brown never met a stranger, and would help anyone who needed help. He married Carol Ann Dodgen on June 10, 1988, in Texarkana, TX. Surviving Mr. Brown are his wife, Carol Brown of Marshall; children, Danny and Martha Brown of Uncertain, TX, David and Joyce Brown of Marshall, Darrell Brown of Marshall; step-sons, Bryan Wille of Baton Rouge, LA, Damon Wille of Huntsville, AL; grandchildren, Jeremy Widon, Crystal Coleman, Karie Youngblood, April Brown, Bailey Brown, Kathryn Wille; great grandchildren, Kaylee Coleman, Bryce Coleman, Kyndal Youngblood, Taylor Youngblood; a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Preceding Mr. Brown in death were his parents; sisters, Willie Rae Maddox and Zona Lou Brown; and brothers, Charles Daniel Brown II and Robert Earl Brown. Pallbearers will be David Weir, Fuzzy Harmon, Vincent Bradbury, Charles Coleman, Michael Youngblood and Steve Robertson. The family requests memorials be made to Marshall Masonic Lodge # 22 Building Fund, P.O. Box 389, Marshall, Texas 75671 or HeartsWay Hospice, 205 East Travis, Marshall, Texas 75672.