"Billy"

Willard  Dale Phipps II, known to us as "Billy", was born June 22, 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska to parents Willard Dale, "Bill", and Esther Phipps.  Billy was raised in Tekamah, Nebraska, until he was 2 years old, at which time his family moved to Fresno, California, where Bill Sr. began working at the funeral home, known as Ricker & Clemens, now Yost & Webb Funeral Home.

Billy grew up in Fresno, in the upstairs of the funeral home, which served as his office for the last 52 years. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1964, and went on to attend Fresno City College and Fresno State University.  He graduated from California Luthern College, in 1968, with a  Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After graduation, Billy went on to obtain his Mortuary Science degree from California College of Mortuary Science in 1969, and became a licensed embalmer, then funeral director.

In Billy's early funeral career, he worked at (Alan) Abbott & (Ron) Hast in Hollywood, then in 1970 he decided to come back to Fresno to join his Dad in the family's funeral business. Billy served the central valley community for over 52 years.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 19 years, Lisa Johnson (Phipps) of Clovis; step children; Blake Harrell of Clovis; Bailey Harrell of Clovis; "mom" and "dad" Louis & Lela Johnson of Auberry;  "brother" and "sister" Anthony & Kelly Ayerza of Clovis; nephews, Anthony Ayerza III (wife Mitzi) of Kingsburg, and Jordan Ayerza of Clovis; nieces, Heather Ayerza of Clovis and  Loryn Ayerza of Clovis; his Yost & Webb Funeral Home family, many cousins, and friends who have become family.