Billie Jean grew up in Medicene Mounds, Texas with her younger sister Gayle. She attended school there from the second grade through high school. She loved to act in the school plays and never missed being in one while she was in high school. She was also on the basketball and volleyball team in high school.

While in high school she met a boy; Glen Mathews. At first she told her friends that she couldn't stand him because he was the most sarcastic boy she had ever met and she would never go out with him. Of course within a few months they were dating and married right out of high school.

Early in their marriage the Mathews tried farming, but there was a severe drought and the farm just didn't make it. There son Larry remembers the family selling off everything they owned and setting out in the car so Glen could find work. They only made it to the end of the drive before the car broke down and they had to spend all of the money they had to get it fixed. Glen worked odd jobs to get enough for the family to set out again. They came across a sign on a chainlink fence in Denver City that said they were highering so Glen applied. The family lived in a small one room section of a quanset hut until Glen was promoted and the family was able to buy a small house at the edge of town.

Things got better from then on. Glen did well with Shell Oil and they moved on to McCamey where Billie Jean eventually openned an art studio giving art lessons. Within a short period of time the public school noticed her work and asked her to teach art for the special needs children and then for the entire Jr. High. Billie Jean kept up with her art throughout her life.

The church was always a very important part of Billie Jeans life. She was a lifetime member of the Church of Christ.

She is survived by 2 sons Larry and Ricky, a granddaughter Shayna and 2 great grandchildren Rayven and Draven.