Obituary of Betty Lucille Billingsley

Betty Billingsley, long-time resident of Taylor County and Fort Worth, TX, passed away on May 22, 2024, just four months prior to her 99^th birthday.

Betty was born in Loraine, TX on September 2, 1925, to Ray and Nora Mae Jennings. Betty graduated from Merkel High School in 1942. During and after high school she worked at the Ben Franklin Dept. Store and the bank in Merkel, TX. On Christmas Eve of 1944 she married Edward Leroy Eason. Leroy and Betty were married for 33 years. During their years they lived in the West Texas communities of Merkel, Big Spring and Brownwood, moving to Fort Worth to raise their family in the early 1950’s. While in Fort Worth, Betty worked in her home as a seamstress, sewing for business women in the area. Leroy passed away on November 30, 1977. During their time in Fort Worth, they helped start the Flamingo Road Church of Christ, where Leroy served as an elder.

Shortly after Leroy’s death, Betty moved to Abilene, TX to care for her parents. Betty worked as a receptionist for Dr. John Stackhouse. During the years following, she met Johnny Billingsley. They married on April 11, 1992. Betty and Johnny had a wonderful life together. They had a home business selling health products. They served in various ministries at the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene. Betty was an active member of the Quilting Ministry. When Johnny’s health began to fail, they moved to Fort Worth, where Betty continued to care for Johnny until his death on January 12, 2007.

In recent years Betty lived in the Waterford Retirement Community before coming to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Southwest Fort Worth. She was a member of the Altamesa Church of Christ for over 20 years serving in the Birthday Card Ministry and Threads of Love, a ministry in which she made over 2,000 blankets for babies born at the county hospitals.

Betty is preceded in death by her two husbands, two brothers, Jay and Charles Jennings, and a sister-in-law, Judy (Chancey) Jennings. She is survived by her daughter, Lou Beth Seay (husband David) and her son, Edd Eason (wife Tresia), stepsons, Johnny Billingsley, Jr. (wife Mona) and Gary Billingsley (wife Lois), Bruce Billingsley (wife Cheryl), step-daughter, Vicki Hughs, sister-in-law, Jeane (Lynch) Jennings, grandchildren, April Hampton (husband Derek), Josh Eason (wife Dara), Sara Singer (husband Neil), Adam Seay, step-grandchildren, M’Liss Stringer (husband Clint), Mark Billingsley (wife DeLana), Holly O’Quinn (husband Jason), Lynn Hughs, Matt Billingsley (wife Keeley), Eric Billingsley (wife Amy), Jennifer Billingsley, Chelsey Scheile, Sarah Crawford and numerous great-grandchildren.

Betty was a dearly loved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, affectionately known as Mema and Great Mema. She was a remarkable Christian servant.

A service honoring her life and legacy will be held at the Altamesa Church of Christ in Fort Worth, TX on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. with a viewing at 9:00 a.m. She will be interned at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel, TX. In lieu of flowers the family requests you make donations to Pioneer Bible Translators in memory of Betty Billingsley.