Billie Jean (Smith) Self was born November 11, 1939 in Holly Ridge, Louisiana to Ezra Smith and Lurlene (Hicks) Smith. After she graduated from Holly Ridge High School, Billie moved to Shreveport, Louisiana to attend beauty school. It was there she met James "Jim" Dwayne Self, who was serving in the Air Force. They were married on January 11, 1960 and began their marriage that lasted until his passing on March 14, 2014. Throughout their lives together Billie and Jim made their home in Florida, Oklahoma City, Vinita and Pryor where they owned BJ's Motorcycle Shop.

The family moved to Wagoner in 1976. Billie worked for a time at Prestolite, where she enjoyed making many friends. They opened Self's Coney Island on July 24, 1982 and continued until retiring to a home at Sequoyah Bay on Fort Gibson Lake. Billie's love of people shined in the restaurant setting. She had a nickname for all their customers, and knew what they wanted to order when they walked in the door. She loved gathering pictures of all the kids, and she always was generous with handing out candy to her customers as they left. Everyone who became her friends she considered her family. In their spare time Billie liked to go to the casinos and go fishing.

Billie departed this life early Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa at the age of 78 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Self; her parents, Ezra and Lurlene Smith and all her siblings:  brothers Alvin Smith, James Smith and Gerald Smith.

Survivors include her children, Jimmy Self of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Linda Self of Wagoner, Donna Self of Weeki Wachee, Florida, Connie Self of Dallas, Texas and Dalton Self and wife, Brittany of Wagoner, OK; granddaughters, April Watkins and Ashley Bertalot; extended family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, August 12, 2018 in the Chapel at Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory, 417 East Cherokee Street, Wagoner, OK. A pot luck dinner will be held at the show barn following the service.