Julia Lee Squire

Julia Lee Squire of Haltom City, TX died on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Medical City North Hills hospital in Richland Hills, TX. Julie was born on April 3, 1947 in Ft. Worth, TX . Julia, known to all as Julie, was the eldest of three children born to parents James Edward and Mary Lou McKillip. During Julie’s childhood, her father had a career centered around aviation working for American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration respectively, and her mother worked as a homemaker caring for Julie and her two younger brothers.

Julie graduated from Haltom High School in 1965, and moved to Abilene, TX to attend Abilene Christian University. Prior to finishing her degree at ACU, Julie met and married Robert Nelson Squire on August 25, 1967, and together they had two children: Stephen Nelson, born November 8, 1969 and Shannon Lee, born February 8, 1973. During Julie’s marriage to Bobby, she served alongside him while he worked as a Youth Minister for Churches of Christ in Dallas, Austin, and Arlington, TX before they moved the family to Huntsville, TX in January of 1979 to take over the campus ministry at Sam Houston State University.

Throughout her years as a minister’s wife, Julie discovered a love for young people and a natural ability to teach. Julie decided to build on her love of teaching, so while living in Huntsville, she returned to college at SHSU earning her Bachelor's degree as well as a Texas Teaching Certificate in the fields of secondary English and Mathematics in May of 1982. Although Julie’s initial plan was to teach English, the Lord had other ideas and led her into the field of math instead. Julie taught secondary math for the Huntsville Independent School District for 13 years; spending 1 year at Mance Park Junior High and the rest at Huntsville High School. In 1995. Julie decided to relocate to the metroplex, so she accepted a job at LD Bell High School in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford School District; she worked at LD Bell for the remainder of her career teaching various math courses including International Baccalaureate Mathematics. Julie retired from public education in 2011, but because she had a spiritual gift for teaching, she continued to use her talents after retirement by substitute teaching for math classes at LD Bell, and she also dedicated herself to teaching others about the love of Christ by leading Ladies Bible Studies at The Hills Church of Christ in Richland Hills and as a member of the Let’s Start Talking ministry.

During Julie’s adult life, she discovered an incredible passion for traveling around the world and learning the wonders of other cultures; she traveled extensively in both the United States and Europe, and many other international destinations including Egypt, Turkey, Prague, Australia, and New Zealand. Julie was often joined by friends traveling purely for the fun of discovering other cultures and the beauty of far off places, but she also combined her ability to teach and passion for travel when she discovered the Let’s Start Talking program. In the summer of 2007, Julie took her first trip to Qingdao, China with LST where she taught Chinese students English using the Bible as her source material. This initial trip set Julie’s soul on fire. Between 2008 and 2019, she went on 9 additional LST trips to Qingdao ministering and spreading God’s message of grace and salvation. The majority of Julie’s Chinese students were hearing the Good News for the very first time, and through Julie’s genuine, compassionate way of teaching, multiple students were baptized, and they now continue to spread the gospel in China.

For her entire life, the one thing that Julie loved more than teaching and traveling was family. In her early years, Julie was the oldest child and grandchild; perhap being the oldest in an extremely large, close knit extended family was the spark that ignited Julie’s ability to teach and guide others. Julie was a natural mother showing her children love by baking birthday cakes, and attending sporting events, and supervising sleepovers, and of course, planning family vacations. However, the thing that filled Julie’s life with joy completely was becoming a Gran. Nothing could bring a smile to her face or light up her eyes faster than speaking of her grandchildren; she was so proud of every accomplishment and gave her time and love to her grandkids selflessly. Though she will be dearly missed, she has passed on to each of them a legacy of love and faith and service that will last the rest of their lives.

Julia Lee Squire was preceded in death by her mother and father, her brother David Lain McKillip, and her grandson Joshua Lain Whiteley. Julie is survived by her brother Ronald McKillip; her son Stephen Squire and daughter Shannon Whiteley; and grandchildren Jordan Whiteley, Jimmy Squire, Reagan Whiteley, and Jacob Squire.

A memorial service for both Julie Squire & Jim McKillip will be held for family and close friends at The Hills Church in North Richland Hills.

All others are welcome to join remotely via livestream https://livestream.com/thehillschurch/events/8629230

Service: Fri 2/12 at The Hills Church Worship Center (NRH) at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Let’s Start Talking Ministry website https://lst.z2systems.com/np/clients/lst/donation.jsp?campaign=22&.  An LST website tribute page for Julie Squire is coming, but for now when you make donations, put Julie’s name in the “Notes” section, and the money will be used for the work in Quingdao, China.