Billy Drace, Sr.

Billy Gene “Captain Skinny” Drace, Sr., 85, of Owensboro, Kentucky passed away Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. He was born in Daviess County on September 3, 1935 to the late James Gilbert Drace and Christine Drace Ijames. Billy was retired from Evansville Marine Service where he worked as a tug boat captain for 57 years. Working on the Ohio River was his passion and he was known as a legend on the river. Billy enjoyed fishing, attending car and truck shows, and his 1955 Chevrolet Apache. Billy especially loved his dog, Zoe.

Along with his parents, Billy was preceded in death by the love of his life, Nancy Havener Drace, of 62 years.

Billy is survived by his children, Billy Gene Drace, Jr., Marion Gayle (Ronnie) Clouse, Dorothy (Mark) Trogden, James Dean Drace, Thomas Gene Drace; 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; and his beloved sister, Norine Drace Hans.

Services will be 12:00 pm Friday, June 25, 2021 at Haley McGinnis Funeral Home & Crematory. Burial will follow at Rosehill-Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Thursday, and again from 10:00 am until the time of service Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of a donation to Shriners Hospital for Children – St. Louis and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.