Billy (Soapy) Durrell 1949		Bill Dorrell and wife Mary
I was born May 19, 1930 to Bertha and Willie Dorrell near Green Forest, Arkansas. My father died shortly after we moved to Eufaula. I went to the first grade at Jefferson Davis along with Peggy Sue, Wanda Lee, Poogie and Dick Pyle. We five were classmates through the 12th grade. While working at R.B. Cafe as a dishwasher during High School, I earned the nickname "Soapy", was with the 45th National Guard in Korea and served as Squad Leader of a machine gun squad. Dick Pyle was also a Squad Leader and we shared a humorous experience when Dick lost his danteen cup. We went trough the chow line together using my cup. I did not like sugar in my coffee, while Dick did. We added sugar without stirring it. I drank the first half then Dick stirred the coffee and drank the rest. 1952 entered OU and earned a BS in Geology. Was employted by Sohlo Petroleum in Houston, Texas. 1958 married Phillis Cooper Krantz, a widow with a 7 year old son, Donald Dale, whom I later adopted. 1959 moved to Lafayette, La. where our first son, B.J. was born. 1960 second son, Shane was born. After moving around several times finally settled in Lafayette. Donald Dale was killed in an auto accident at age 19. In 1973 earned an MS degree in Computer Science from the Univ. of Southwest Louisiana. In 1976 Phillis died of bone cander at age 45. 1981 - married Mary Clark Gates, a widow with one son, Charles. 1993 - closed my Oil Center office and retired to a home office where for a time I serviced former clients. 1994 - joined by two sons, B.J. and Shane at Gosnell's and area family's semi-truck and trailer parts house. Mary and I share three grandchildren: Catherine - 10, Sarah - 11, and Will - 8.