Billy O'Connor

W.E. "Billy" O'Connor, age 55 of Paxton, passed away Friday, May 20, 2016 at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Billy was born November 9, 1960 at Ogallala, Nebraska to Bill R. and Mary Alice (Allie) (Feltz) O'Connor. Billy graduated from Ogallala High School in 1979 and went on to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Ag Economics in 1984.

On December 1, 1984, Billy married Tracy Merritt. The couple made their home in Keystone until 1993, when they moved to Paxton. Their union was blessed with 3 children, Merritt, Rhett and Darby. Billy worked hard managing a large portion of the family ranch and maintaining a heavy involvement in local affairs. He had coached several youth sporting teams and eventually got involved in coaching girls basketball, having spent the last 3 years as the head coach of the Paxton Lady Tigers. In 2000 Billy was elected to serve as the Keith County Commissioner for District 1, and has been a fixture on the board since that time.

Billy was an accomplished high school and collegiate athlete, having won championships in rodeo on both the state and national level. He was a member of numerous rodeo associations and had been serving as the regional director of both the high school and collegiate rodeo associations.

Billy's time as a coach was impactful to many student athletes. He was beloved by many, and shared wonderful memories with his teams. He would often urge his girls to compete with "clear eyes and full hearts." Billy's presence will be sorely missed by his family, student athletes, colleagues and countless friends.

Preceding Billy in death are his grandparents, Eugene (Ruby) Feltz; W.R. (Edna) O'Connor; father-in-law, Delbert Merritt; uncle, Jerry O'Connor and aunts, Joan & Lucille O'Connor.

Survivors include his 3 children; Merritt, Rhett and Darby O'Connor all of Paxton; parents, Bill R. (Allie) O'Connor of Ogallala; brother, Sam (Liz) O'Connor of Keystone; Tracy O'Connor of Paxton; brothers-in-law, Scott (Tammy) Merritt of Lincoln, Jay Merritt of Scottsbluff, Clark (Mo) Merritt of Alliance, mother-in-law, Shirley (Loren) Potter of Gering; nieces and nephews, Cam and Alex O'Connor, Morgan Philpot, Coltan, Mattison and McKenzie Merritt; along with many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Billy's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com where the service will be streamed live for those unable to attend.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, May 27, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Luke's Catholic Church in Ogallala with Father Bryan Ernest as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the Paxton Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala. A Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. on Thursday at St. Luke's Catholic Church.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements