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Vera Mae (Allinson) Bilyeu, 95, passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Bristow, Oklahoma.
Vera's life will be celebrated on Saturday, May 2nd at 10am at the First Christian Church in Stillwater. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that you make a donation to your favorite charity in her honor.
Vera Mae (Allinson) Bilyeu was born on March 23, 1931, in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Merle Lloyd and Lena (Spiva) Allinson. The family moved to Stillwater shortly thereafter. During World War II, the family moved to San Francisco where her parents worked in the shipyards. She had fond memories of riding the trollies with her sister, Maxine.
Vera married her high school sweetheart, Max Gilbert, on July 27, 1950. To this union one son, Michael Gilbert Bilyeu, was born. After a battle with leukemia, Max died in 1958. Vera met Winsel Bilyeu while working in the Student Union at OSU and married him on January 28, 1960. Winsel adopted Mike, and they added another son, Kevin Bilyeu, and a daughter, Kara Bilyeu Brown. Vera and Winsel celebrated 40 years of marriage before his death in 2000.
Vera started nursing school but soon learned it was not for her. She then attended Oklahoma State University. She liked to tell the story of when she was asked to leave the OSU library because she was not dressed properly (she was wearing a pantsuit instead of a dress). She worked for the Registrar's Office as the Enrollment Coordinator at OSU for over 20 years. While it was sometimes a very stressful job, her kids benefitted by never having to stand in line to enroll.
In retirement, Vera volunteered at Stillwater Medical Center and Elite Repeat. Vera and Winsel were long time members of the First Christian Church and served in many capacities. She was active in the lives of her grandchildren and enjoyed playing canasta with her friends. Vera was always a proponent of women's rights and enjoyed talking politics, whether you wanted to have the discussion or not. She was charitable to many groups, and animals always had a special place in her heart. She had a quiet strength, a little bit of sass, and was the very best mom and grandma. She spent her last few years in Bristow and came to consider it home.
Vera was preceded in death by her parents, Merle and Lena Allinson, her husband, Max Gilbert, her husband, Winsel Bilyeu, her sister, Maxine Largent, and brother-in-law, Ray Largent.
Left to honor her legacy are her children, Mike and Muffie Bilyeu of Bozeman, MT, Kevin and Starla Bilyeu of McLoud, OK, and Kara and Derek Brown of Bristow, OK. Her grandchildren include Bryan and Devin Bilyeu, Micaela and Bailey Herber, Ali Bilyeu, Drew Bilyeu, Lyndsey Brown and Brittyn and Ryan Highfield. Her great-grandchildren are Cashia, Audrina "Boo" and Briella Herber, Bodhi Bilyeu and Dalyn Highfield. She also had special nieces and nephews.
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