Kevin Gray Notgrass, age 58, left this world much too soon on September 18, 2023, in Brownwood, Texas. He was a long-time resident of Brownwood, and had recently returned after living on his father’s farm outside of Carbon, Texas for several years. A celebration of life for Kevin will be held from 6 – 8 PM on Friday, September 22, at Heartland Funeral Home in Early.
Kevin was born in Andrews, Texas, on December 13, 1964. His parents were living in Driver, an El Paso Natural Gas camp near Midkiff, Texas, when he was born. He lived in Driver, McLean, Kermit, and back to Driver, Texas before graduating high school. He attended school in Kermit until the 3rd grade and continued his education in Rankin until his graduation from Rankin High School in 1984. He was a proud Rankin Red Devil, participating in football and tennis.
After graduating, he moved to Midland and went to work for Texas Instruments in quality control. Kevin was very mechanical, like his daddy, and could do just about anything. During his career, he lived in Odessa, Brownwood, and Carbon. He worked for Superior Cable as a line assistant, A-1 Windows as a supervisor/installer, Chesapeake Drilling, Waco Systems, and Superior Optimization. He was in his element fixing cars, motorcycles, pretty much anything with wheels. He loved antique cars, Mustangs, and old equipment. He loved to drive fast and be a little daring-something he probably would have told you with a chuckle that he learned from his sister. He shared a love of animals-donkeys, mules, and dogs in particular-with his daddy. He was kindhearted to a fault, easily moved to tears, and tough as nails.
While working at Texas Instruments, he met the love of his life, Cindi Billingsley. He didn’t just fall in love with Cindi, but also her daughter Misty. Kevin and Cindi were married in Odessa, Texas, on August 22, 1992. They recently celebrated their 31st anniversary. Cindi was Kevin’s everything, and he was hers. They perfectly completed each other, and they were never better than when they were together. They were the embodiment of “in sickness and in health, for better or worse” and were each other’s strength and support, no matter what life threw at them. Misty was the light of Kevin’s life, and he cherished her as his daughter. When Misty gave him a granddaughter, his “Otter Pop” Audrey, that light was just made all the brighter. He loved his three women more than life itself and gave them all he had.
Kevin is survived by his beloved wife, Cindi, daughter Misty Billingsley, granddaughter Audrey Hardy, and son-in-law David Hardy, all of Brownwood. He is also survived by his cherished mother, Jo Ann Johnson Notgrass, formerly of Carbon; his sister Kim Wrinkle and husband Brent of Rankin; his nephew Jordan Swinney and wife Andrea of Midland; his niece Meaghan Swinney of Robert Lee; great nieces Brooklyn, Brielle, Mandie, Briar, and Braleigh Jo, and great nephew Briggs Gray. He will be missed by many Notgrass and Johnson aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Kevin was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Jesse and Alma Johnson, his paternal grandparents J.G. and Rosa Notgrass, his father Buddy Gray Notgrass, and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, 8317 Duckworth Rd, San Angelo, Texas 76905 or at donkeyrescue.org.
Online condolences, memories and tributes can be made to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net
