Billy Gayle Atkins, 89, of Winona, Missouri, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on September 4, 2026. Billy was born in Winona, in their family home, on October 4, 1936. He was the son of Chester “Chet” Franklin Atkins and Ethel Lilac (Strain) Atkins and was raised alongside his five sisters, Gloria Warren, Barbara West, Doris Pulliam, Patsy Williams, and Eunice Plumb, and one brother, Chester “Bud” Atkins.

From a young age, Billy worked with his dad and brother in the family logging and sawmill business. In 1957, he met the love of his life, Joyce Gerlean Koogler. They were married on September 19, 1957, and together built a life centered around family, faith, and hard work. To this union, two sons were born: Brian Gayle Atkins and Kevin Glenn Atkins.

Billy made his living doing what he knew and loved. He loved raising hogs on his farm in his spare time. His main occupation, though, was logging in the early days, and afterward he spent many years as head sawyer for Moss-American/Kerr-McGee in Winona, Missouri. He worked as head sawyer until around age 55, when he became disabled due to major back problems. He loved his job so much that just a day or so before he passed, he said he wished he could still be working at the sawmill. He loved the work he did and was very good at it.

Billy loved to hunt and fish back when his health was better. He was a very good fisherman. It seemed that he could catch fish in the same hole of water that his friends were fishing in when they couldn’t catch anything. He apparently had a special technique he used that worked. He was an excellent deer hunter and hunted every season, even last fall, when he had to hunt out the window of his house because he was unable to go out and hunt in the woods due to his health. If he ever got to shoot at a deer, it was usually his. He did not waste shells.

He took great pride in his home and yard, and loved keeping his place immaculate. When his health was better, he loved being on his tractor mowing or brush hogging the fields and land outside the yard, keeping the place looking nice. He also loved mowing his yard with the riding mower sometimes more than once a week, keeping his yard trimmed beautifully.

Billy was an extremely honest, hardworking, strong man. He had a good sense of humor. In recent years, he would find good, clean jokes on Facebook and loved sharing them, which gave him a good laugh. He loved playing his favorite card game, pitch, and loved playing checkers, and he almost always won.

Over the past several years, as his mobility became more difficult, he spent much of each day sitting in his sunroom, looking out the window to watch wildlife such as deer, turkey, skunks, or whatever he could see. He would also put together 1000-piece puzzles to keep his mind occupied. He recently had to stop doing 1000-piece puzzles and would put together 300- or 500-piece puzzles due to his vision getting worse, and it became difficult to pick up the smaller pieces.

Billy cared for his family dearly and was a faithful Christian man. His faith was a very important part of his life, and he knew the Bible well and was able to share scriptures to help others in need of help or encouragement. Billy was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on March 23, 1970. He served as an elder in the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Birch Tree and Winona for many years. He helped many people in so many ways over the years.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Ethel Atkins; three sisters, Gloria Warren, Barbara West, and Eunice Plumb; and his brother, Bud Atkins.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Atkins of the home; his two sons, Brian Atkins and wife, Tammy, and Kevin Atkins and wife, Holly; five grandchildren, Ariana Gallamore and husband Michael, Tiffany Alessi, Brooke Bratten and husband, Jake, Tyler Atkins, and Riley Atkins; three great-grandchildren, Elijah Zeh, Jaiden Mattox, and Gabriella Gallamore; and many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, other family, great neighbors, and friends.

Billy leaves behind a life defined by faith, family, hard work, and friendship. He will be deeply missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, extended family, his brothers and sisters, friends, neighbors, and all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Yarber Mortuary, Winona, Missouri, with Minister David Carnefix officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1-2:00 p.m., also at the funeral home. Interment will be in Mount Zion Cemetery, Winona. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.