Funeral services for Doris Billingsley will be held on Friday, January 31, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Chapel with Reverend Doug McClure officiating and burial following in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Doris passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2014 in Durant, Oklahoma, at the age of 83.
Doris Billingsley passed from this life into the Great City of Light on January 28, 2014. Born on June 15, 1930 in Lamesa, Texas, Doris was a longtime resident of Choctaw County Oklahoma. Raised in the communities of Rock Hill, Long Creek, Fort Towson and eventually Hugo, Doris met, fell in love with, and married James Edward "Jack" Billingsley on September 7, 1946. Their 50 year journey in life together carried them through Van Buren and Fort Smith Arkansas, Midland and Odessa Texas and to Houston Texas where they spent 28 wonderful years. They returned to Hugo in 1991 and later spent a brief time in Schertz, Texas until Jack's passing in 1997. Doris spent 2 years in the Nashville, Tennessee area until resettling in Hugo in 2000 where she remained until her death. When asked of her occupation in life Doris was proud to call herself a "home maker" rather than house wife. Taking an environment, regardless of circumstance, and making it a home was her great gift. She considered her long marriage and raising four children as her greatest accomplishment, although the lives she touched moved far beyond the confines of home and family.
Doris' greatest sorrow was being preceded in death by her 3 month old baby Rita Jo, the death of her father Roy Christopher, brothers Richard, Royce, and Joe Christopher, the death of her sisters, Pearl Clements and Sybil Inge, and especially the death of her dear mother Elsie Christopher and her beloved husband Jack.
Her joy was spending time with her loving family who survive her in death, Gary and Kathy Billingsley of Hugo, Richard Billingsley of Hugo, Dave Billingsley of Houston, Texas , and Karen and Dwayne Rushing of Kenard, Texas. Doris is also survived by four grandsons who were the light of her life, Steve Billingsley of San Antonio, Texas, Travis Billingsley and his wife Katie of College Station, Texas, Tony Rushing and his wife Michelle of Humble, Texas and Joe Rushing and his wife Dawn of Splendora, Texas. Doris is survived by five great grandchildren, Emily, Mark, Drake, Trent and Ethan.
She is survived by three brothers, Jerry Christopher and wife Linda of Hugo, Russell Christopher and wife Penny of Checotah, Oklahoma, and Ray Christopher and wife Linda of Checotah, Oklahoma. Doris is survived by one sister, Vivian and her husband Randy McElyea of Benton, Arkansas. Doris was a light to the world, a one of a kind unique woman, strong in faith, determined, yet compromising, conservative in approach, yet progressive in thinking, and frugal yet incredibly generous. Doris firmly believed love conquers all evil and was a firm believer in equality for all human beings. Her favorite color was the yellow of Daffodils, her favorite flower was the Peace Rose, and her favorite TV show was the Waltons, often commenting "If the whole world lived and loved like the Waltons, it would be a better place for sure".
The family will receive friends Thursday, January 30, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Funeral Home Chapel in Hugo, Oklahoma.
Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book or send private condolences to the family at www.praterlampton.com.
Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 31, 2014 ~ Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Chapel
Officiating: Reverend Doug McClure Music: "In The Garden" ~ " I Shall Not Be Moved"
Pallbearers: Steve Billingsley ~ Travis Billingsley ~ Joe Rushing ~ Tony Rushing ~ Gary Billingsley ~ Ray Christopher Honorary Pallbearers: Jerry Christopher ~Russell Christopher ~ Randy McElyea
Interment: Mt. Olivet Cemetery Hugo, Oklahoma.
