Billy Joe Tabor's Obituary
A memorial service for Bill Tabor aka “Bull Tabor” will be held at Beckwith Baptist Church in DeRidder, LA on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 2pm. Interment will follow in the Whitaker Cemetery in DeRidder, LA under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home.
Bill went to be with our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ on Sept 8, 2020 after a 5 month battle with lung cancer. He is survived by Fontaine, his wife of 57 years, his brother Richard, three sons: Steve Tabor of Globe, AZ, Mark Tabor of Globe, AZ and Heath Tabor of Lake Charles , LA his wife Jackie, and 6 grandchildren: Maurina and Christian, Mindy, Chris, Michelle, and Andrew. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Katherine Tabor, siblings Don Tabor, Barbara Boatman, and Terry Tabor and his sons Damone S. Tabor and Michael Tabor
Bill was born again at Bellaire Baptist Church in Bossier City, LA in 1968. Shady Grove Baptist in Shreveport became The Tabor’s home church for 17 years where he met many friends to minister with throughout the years.
His favorite thing was his truck and favorite topics were the Bible and “the business” he shared with his youngest son, Heath. Bill was a commercial paint contractor for more than 60 years. Together Heath and Bill have owned and operated Mallard Construction & Interiors, Inc, since 1988 which is still serving SWLA on recovery efforts from Hurricane Laura.
Bill’s favorite past times were fellowshipping at church with friends, reading, “puzzling” or traveling with Fontaine. A member of Beckwith Baptist in DeRidder for 20 years and Trinity Baptist Church for 12 years, Bill’s dedication to missions and Celebrate Recovery has been the catalyst for thousands to come to know and understand eternal salvation & forgiveness through the blood of Jesus.
We couldn’t go without mentioning Bill’s best friend of 45 years, Pastor Rick Stucke, his wife Lisa and their girls, Nikki and Michelle and their families. Never has there ever been a deeper, more true friendship and we’re beyond thankful for Rick’s dedication and care for Bill and our family until the very end. Between the current pandemic and Hurricane Laura everything having to do with Bill’s illness and treatment became overly complicated, to say the least. The Tabor family is also eternally grateful for the consideration, and friendship of Mr. Ralph Hayes and Dr David Landry, along with our new friends at Heart of Hospice in Lake Charles and Vitas Hospice Unit in Spring, TX. Without their kindness, knowledge and consistent compassion, Bill’s health condition coupled with catastrophic Hurricane Laura would have been unbearable for our family.
To everyone from coast to coast who sent cards, notes, texts, called and prayed during our time of distress, thank you! We have absolute assurance we will all be together again, this time with brand new, healthy bodies on streets paved with gold, by the crystal sea and are sincerely praying for each & every person who reached out to us to know & understand the redemptive love of the Lord Jesus. “For God so loved the world He sent His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him will never perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Trinity Baptist Church: Hurricane Laura Relief, sendrelief.org/Laura.
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