Billie Witherspoon, Merle Haggard's first wife, 66

[deb...@comcast.net]

Haggard's ex-wife dies
BY STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer
e-mail: sswe...@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Jul 15 2006 8:40 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Jul 15 2006 8:44 PM

She was not Merle Haggard's favorite wife, but she was his first and
the mother of four of his six children.

Billie Leona Hobbs Witherspoon, 66, of Bakersfield, died on July 9 and
had a funeral service on Friday at Valley Baptist Church.

She was a waitress in 1956 when she married Merle Haggard, an unknown
singer who was more into crime than becoming a country legend.

The couple were married until 1964, the year before Haggard married
Bonnie Owens, the ex-wife of Buck Owens, and a singing partner for
Haggard.

Haggard would have six wives, biographies say.

In that eight-year stretch of the first marriage, Leona Hobbs as she
was known at that time had four of Haggard's children -- Dana, Marty,
Kelli and Noel.

Haggard spent more than three years in prison on a burglary conviction
in 1957, according to several biographies.

He was drunk and was with two drunken friends when they tried to break
into a restaurant they thought was closed -- because they thought it
was 3 a.m. when it was actually 10:30 p.m. -- and although they ran
away, he was caught the next day.

Haggard's relationship with his first wife was not always cordial.

In a recent interview, Haggard was quoted as saying about the woman who
had disdain for his singing, "Any listing of famous battlefields should
include my marriage to Leona Hobbs."

He had troubles with a couple of the children, including one who he
said spread lies about him to get $25,000 from a tabloid, but he said
in a recent interview that there appears to be mutual respect now.

Haggard has two other children from his current wife, Theresa Lane.

No one in Witherspoon's family could be reached for comment Saturday,
but an obituary says she was the mother of six children, 15
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was described in the obituary as having a "giving and kind heart
along with her contagious laughter and sense of humor that always left
you wondering what would come next."

The obituary said she was born in McFarland.

Haggard, 69, rose to fame in the early 1960s and was elected to the
Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994.

Among his famous songs were "Mama Tried," "Okie From Muskokee" and "My
Favorite Memory."

[wazzzy]

deb...@comcast.net wrote:
Haggard's ex-wife dies

Billie Leona Hobbs Witherspoon, 66, of Bakersfield, died on July 9 and
had a funeral service on Friday at Valley Baptist Church.

this has been a hellu'va year for Haggard ex's

[Janice Busgal Brooks]

Witherspoon, Billie Leona Hobbs

Services will be held Friday, July 14th, 10:00 a.m., at Valley Baptist
Church, 4800 Fruitvale Ave. for Billie Leona Hobbs Witherspoon who went
home to be with our Lord on July 9, 2006. Leona was born Dec. 31, 1939
in McFarland, CA. Leona is survived by her 6 children, Dana, Marty,
Kelly, James, Noel and Deena; 3 sisters and 2 brothers, Joanne, Margo,
Debrah, Michael, Richie; and by her 15 grandchildren; 9 great-
grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death
by her parents, Billie Leon and Margaret Janelle Hobbs and 5 brothers
and 1 sister, Alice, Larry, Randy, Ronnie, Stanley and Danny. Leona's

giving and kind heart along with her contagious laughter and sense of

humor that always left you wondering what would come next, will be
missed most by her family and friends. You will be greatly missed by
all those who loved you. Private viewing begins today for family from
5-6 p.m.; with public viewing for friends from 6-8 p.m., at Kern River
Family Mortuary-Oildale. Until we meet again. Billie Leona Hobbs
Witherspoon Dec. 31, 1939 - July 9, 2006 www.bakersfield.com/obits