Billy Gene East was born on July 9, 1934 in Macon County, Tenn. He was the son of the late Wick and Grace M. (Carnahan) East. Besides his parents; brothers, Wick Jr. East, and Verlin “Buddy” East, and sister, Earline Coons, preceded him in death. On August 27, 1960 he married Donna Stafford sharing forty-eight years together; she survives. Billy served in the United States Army during the late fifty’s then worked for Nashville Bridge Company for thirty years. He enjoyed playing pool, and going to the Senior Citizens Center. Billy was a member of Sunrise Missionary Baptist Church. Besides his wife, he is survived by; son, Don Smith of Lafayette, Tenn., daughter, Sherill Gilliam of Franklin, Tenn., grandchild, Corporal Zachary Gilliam of Cherry Point, N.C.