Billy Mallory Miller

Billy Mallory Miller, 67, of Temple passed away on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at a local nursing facility.

A visitation for Billy will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Crotty Funeral Home in Belton. Funeral services for Billy will be at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at Harker Heights United Methodist Church located at 205 West Cardinal Lane in Harker Heights with Rev. Leslie Tomlinson, Chaplain Luis Rivera, and Chaplain Bruce Mercer officiating. A meal will follow at the church from 12:00 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. Burial with military honors to follow at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen at 2:00 P.M.

Billy Mallory Miller was born on February 25, 1954, to Billy Don Miller and Janice Eleanor Cast Miller at Sewel-Long Hospital in Belton. He was baptized at age twelve at the Miller Heights Baptist Church. Billy was a standout Belton Tiger, being team captain, and selected as ALL DISTRICT in football in defense/offense. He graduated from Belton High in 1972 and married Beverly Leigh Alston in Troy that same year. At a young age Billy had a passion for boxing. At the age of only 18 he had 155 amateur bouts in all and a record of 150-5 won-lost. He won the Texas State Golden Glove boxing championship in 1971, 1972, and 1973. Also, in 1972 he was runner up for Boxing National Champion and was defeated only by Sugar Ray Seals, which qualified him as runner up to go to the 1972 Olympics. Sugar Ray went on to win the Gold that year in the Olympics. In 1973 Billy became the American National Champ Representative in which he fought the Mexico, German, Russian champions. He joined the Army in 1974 and served two years in a boxing role representing the Army. Once he retired his gloves he settled back in Harker Heights and raised three children. Out of all his championship wins, his three children were his biggest accomplishment, he was known as “Billy Pa” to his grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Billy Don Miller and Jan Eleanor Cast Miller, his son, Mallory Terrence Mark Miller, and his grandson, Trey Alston Short Sr.

Billy is survived by his son, Steven Josey Miller of Temple, his daughter, Stacey and husband, Rick Short of Temple, his brothers, Mike Miller and Ronnie Miller of Harker Heights, his sisters, Donna Jo Patterson of College Station and Carolyn Wiebelhaus of Bryan, his granddaughter, Lexie Short, and four great grandchildren, Ariana Reyna, Lauren Huerta, Trey Short Jr. Ryleigh Short.

Pall Bearers- Joe Lingo, Mike Randolph, Cody Wiebelhaus, Dakota Carter, Jordan Miller, Luke Miller

Arrangements are entrusted to Crotty Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Belton.