Billie Stoner

Our Mom Billie Jean was born May 7th, 1932 at home in Baker, Oregon to Anne Cethel and Lesley Alton Schuck. She joined her older brothers Don and Richard and her sister Elaine. When she was two she got to help welcome her little sister Patricia. All greeted her in heaven. Billie graduated High school in 1951 and had already started her first career as an automobile bookkeeper at age 15. While working at Leoper Chevrolet she met and married this handsome man who came to check on the flooring, my dad. In 1956 she became a mom when she had Mary Jane. Three years later Jeannette Marie was welcomed into the family. And twenty-two months later they named their new daughter after mom, Billie Kay. Her daughters knew their middle names well as Billie would use them and raise one eyebrow when we were in trouble. Our family of 5 lived on Cedar Street in Baker Oregon, two blocks from her parents. Many family gatherings happened in this house where our mother spent hours pinning sequin beads on Christmas balls, making the most beautiful Christmas trees each year. And each year they were different. In 1971 the family moved to Hood River where mom started her second career as the bookkeeper for a sheltered workshop whose employees were mentally disabled. She was able to develop an accounting system where each person was paid by the job, by the hour, and meet all the government requirements. Everyone was in awe of the system. Mom continued to work there until 1981 when Dad's job took them all over the country. They moved several times as Dad’s job required and they were able to visit many parts of the United States. They moved to Fresno, Santa Clara California, Phoenix, Boston MA and then to Lake Forest, California. Only one family member made it to all of their homes. When Dad retired they moved to Sunsites and built a home on Dale Lane. She became a volunteer at the local library and part of the Shadow Mountain Golf Course and Visitor Center. Our mother had many names, her best friend Marge Toney called her Billie Jean and kept in contact for the rest of her life. Family members called her Bea and Auntie Bea. We called her mom (except on Friday's, when Dad returned from traveling and she insisted we call her Dad.) Our childhood friends called her Mama Billie. In the 80’s mom welcomed three son-in-laws, Dan Nichols, Chris Hayward and Jim Fortner. Then in 1980 she got a new cherished name, Grammy, when her grandson Justin was born. We believe this was the name that she loved the most. In 1984 Grammy welcomed another grandson, Matthew, in 1986, her first granddaughter Megan. Eleven month later by Amber. In 1989 her youngest granddaughter LesleAnn was born, and named after Billie's parents. Her youngest grandson Kyle arrived in 1990. Her grandchildren spent countless summers with their Grammy and their Papa here in Arizona and have many stories of Grammy’s antics with them to share. In 2011 Grammy was promoted to Great-Grammy when Brayden James was born. She welcomed two more grandsons, Thiago Cruz in 2012 and Kaleb Philip in 2015. In 2016, her first great-granddaughter Antoinette Jeannette and in 2017 her newest granddaughter Calla Jean joined the family. September 9, 2017 after 62 years of marriage Billie moved to heaven. She passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family. Even after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's Billie continued to be a joy and mad us laugh. Our hearts are filled with countless memories we will cherish forever. . Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at The Church at Sunsites. Contributions may be made in Billie's name to the Charles Wm Leighton Jr. Hospice, P.O. Box 115, Willcox, Arizona 85644 or on line at www.willcoxhospice.com

Billie Stoner

May 7, 1932 - September 9, 2017