Billy Joe Hennie was born on March 15, 1951 in Sacramento, California to Jennie Anderson Patterson and Clint Bass. At a young age he moved to Sherman, Texas where he attended Fred Douglass School. Billy moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1984 under the care of his brother Donnie Hennie, and returned to Sherman, TX following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2008 he moved to McKinney, TX. Billy was truly that person that never met a stranger and treated all people the same. He was loved by everyone he met and will be sadly missed.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clint Bass, mother, Jennie Hennie (Norman Hennie, adopted Father), brother Louie Patterson, sisters Tommie Robinson (Guy), Mable Dorsey (Larry).

Billy departed this world to return to his Father God in Heaven on March 5, 2025, at 6:05 am at the Medical Center of McKinney.

He leaves to treasure his memories, brothers Donnie Ray Hennie (Essie) of McKinney, TX, Clint Bass, Joe Bass and sister Christine Bass Johnson all of Sacramento, CA. Godchild Jeanell Hennie of McKinney, TX and a host of relatives, family and friends, and nieces and nephews.