Billy Dungy, PKA Jesse Hunter

Born and raised in Shelby County on the north side of Memphis, Billy spent his summers rodeoing and showing horses, while winters were spent playing music. While he attended Raleigh-Egypt High School, his real education happened at local music venues, where he often used a fake I.D. to get in. His first paid studio gig was playing blues harmonica on a record under the name of Billy Ray, because the producer didn't want anyone to know what he looked like. He earned local success as a singer and songwriter, and his first recording was with Mastercraft Studios in Memphis in 1980.

Billy moved to Nashville in 1983 at the age of 24, working a land surveying job during the day while spending evenings at local singer/songwriter venues like The Bluebird Café and many others. Billy landed his first songwriting job for Ray Baker Music in 1985 and then Merit Music in 1986. That same year, he left Nashville for six months to perform in the Virgin Islands and Europe. He was able to play music in some amazing venues and see many exotic places, and it renewed his musical energy as he returned to the competitive Nashville music scene.

His biggest break as an artist came in 1991, when he signed with Screen Gems Music. There, he was given creative freedom to showcase himself and not just the label. In 1992, he signed with BNA Records / BMG Music. By 1994, his album, A Man Like Me, produced by Barry Beckett, debuted, charting three singles and videos, including the dance hit "Long-Legged Hannah FromButte Montana." Billy toured and performed with such artists as Tim McGraw, Waylon Jennings, Brooks and Dunn, Charlie Daniels, Wynonna Judd, Toby Keith, and so many others.

Billy met the love of his life, Becky Dayhuff, in 1991, and they married in 1995. He considered this his greatest accomplishment. In 1998, Billy and Becky built a beautiful log cabin in Norene, TN, and in 1999, his second greatest accomplishment, his daughter Gracie, came onto the scene. This prompted him to discontinue touring and focus on his young family and a life at home. Billy was always busy. If he wasn't helping Becky and Gracie, he was probably helping a neighbor or a perfect stranger who quickly became his friend. Billy lived his life with his priorities in the right order: Jesus first, family second, friends and neighbors third, and career after that. Billy also had a love and understanding for nature and animals, and cared for them and his land with great care and attention – just like everything else he did.

While focusing on family life, Billy also started a commercial cleaning business, Goldstar Building Care, and further expanded his creative talents to include playwriting and screenwriting, completing his first full-length movie screenplay in 2022. His friend Edie Pope from Watertown High School contacted him to ask if he would consider writing a musical play for their fall production. Without hesitation, he agreed. Billy believed that just as sports are important to athletic students, the performing arts – choir, band, art, and theatre – are just as important to artistic students. Through writing his play, he wanted students to gain experience working as a team and find a little more confidence in themselves by performing in front of an audience.

In 2023, life took an unexpected turn as Gracie fell in love with Alex Bakhurst and his daughter Madison. Even though Billy thought no one would ever be good enough for Gracie, Alex proved to be the exception. Billy became a grandfather, affectionately known as G-Pa, with Becky as G-Ma. Alex and Madison truly were his family, just as much as Becky and Gracie ever were. He was proud to call them his son and granddaughter. With Billy, you didn't have to be blood to be considered family. His heart and his love for people were central to who he was.

While he loved Becky and Gracie intensely, he loved Jesus even more. You could find him each morning drinking coffee, reading his Billy Graham devotional book and studying his Bible – the greatest love story ever told. He had a personal relationship with Jesus. He wasn't just a Sunday morning friend; Jesus was Billy's best friend, and oh, what a Friend he had in Jesus. Billy accepted the ultimate gift by asking Jesus to become his Lord and Savior. Billy lived a beautiful life knowing that we are here for a little while, and we need to secure our future home through Jesus. Like the old song says, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world."

Billy was greatly loved by all who knew him. He touched many lives and helped many people. Tennessee is a smaller place without him. He will be deeply missed and always remembered.

Billy Dungy was born on January 14th, 1959 and entered his forever home on June 6th, 2026 after suffering a sudden cardiac event.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Becky Dayhuff Dungy and his daughter Gracie (Alex and Madison); 2 sisters Karen (Mark) Jarvis, Kathy (Don) Elkins; niece Angie (Brian) Byrd; nephew Randall Evans; and several great nieces and nephews.

Mr. Dungy was preceded in death by his parents; mother Jean (Al) Rogers; Bill (Martha) Dungy II.

Funeral services for Mr. Billy R. Dungy (PKA Jesse Hunter), age 67 of Watertown, will be conducted on Thursday June 11, 2026 at 7:00pm from the Round Lick Baptist Church (745 West Main St. Watertown, TN 37184). Bro. Rick Burns will officiate. Visitation with the family will be held at Round Lick Baptist Church on Thursday from 5:00pm until service time at 7:00pm. Mr. Dungy passed away on Saturday June 6, 2026 at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital in Lebanon following a sudden cardiac event. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to be made to honor his love of country music and passion of song writing with a memorial donation to:

https://give.countrymusichalloffame.org/memorial (Memorial donations in memory of Billy Dungy, PKA, Jesse Hunter which will benefit Country Music Hall of Fame's Words & Music program in local schools.) Contribution notification address for family 404 Public Square Watertown, TN 37184.

Hunter Funeral Home of Watertown, in charge of arrangements (615) 237-9318