Billy Earl Poolaw Jr. passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at his home in Lawton at the age of 52. Billy was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on December 7, 1971, to Billy Poolaw and Vikki Poolaw. Following his birth the family relocated to Lawton, Oklahoma. Billy was a member of the Kiowa tribe with heritage from both Kiowa and Delaware tribes. He attended Hugh Bish Elementary School, Central Junior High School, and Lawton High School. He began his college career at Cameron University in Lawton, then earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Oklahoma in 1995.

His dream was to live in New York City, so he packed up and moved to start a new life. While in New York he worked for several companies including Citigroup, Chanel, and Siemens. He also learned the art of trapeze and became an instructor. Billy loved life. He lived on his own terms and was a free spirit. Indeed, he was always the life of the party. He was a talented artist in virtually every medium. He loved painting and drawing, but his passion was printmaking. He was a rare individual who could do almost anything from drawing a portrait to cutting hair, gardening, cooking, and fixing a lawnmower or changing a car battery. Not that he liked the latter.

Billy never lost contact with his family and friends in Oklahoma. He was the type of person that kept in touch. In 2010, he returned to Lawton. During that time, he helped care for his grandparents. He experienced a great deal of loss during a short period of time with several deaths in his family including his mother and later his grandparents, Bill and Mary Melton.

He had visited New Orleans several times and spontaneously decided to live there for a while. Hurricane Ida prompted him to return again to Lawton.

Billy was a kind and generous person. He helped his family and friends whenever he could, whether it was providing a ride, a meal, mowing a lawn, or checking on a loved one. He had two Great Danes, Blu Bear and Cocoa, that were the center of his universe. They provided much comfort to him, and he loved them dearly.

Billy will be missed and never forgotten.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Vikki Poolaw Upton; his paternal grandparents, Donald and Thelma Poolaw; his maternal grandparents, Bill and Mary Melton; and an uncle Billy Melton.

He is survived by his father Billy Poolaw and wife Sherri; his sisters Brandi Poolaw and Crystal Veal; aunts and uncles, Donna and Cliff Walters, April and Donnie Bain, Tim and Royalin Melton, Angela Melton, Gleason Poolaw, Mike and Mary Poolaw; a special cousin Jennifer Walters; his soul mate Tammy Johnson; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Graveside service to be held Thursday August 22, at 7:30pm at

Highland Cemetery, Lawton. OK

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Humane Society.