Nadine Beatrice Haase

Billie was born on January 24, 1931 to David and Pearl Laird in Omaha, Nebraska. She married Eustace E. Spears of Avery, Texas on September 25, 1953, and they had three children, Cynthia (Cindy), Mary Alice and Carolyn. She grew up in Joplin, Missouri and spent most of her adult life in Beaumont, Texas. Billie enjoyed family gatherings, camping, sewing, and long games of monopoly but only with coffee. After the death of her first husband, and her retirement from Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, she enjoyed traveling with her close friend, Dena Berryman, before her return to Joplin. Billie married Marvin Haase on November 25, 2000, and the couple enjoyed volunteering at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and the Joplin Association for the Blind among others. Billie returned to Texas in 2019 and settled in Wildwood where she enjoyed drinking strong coffee, watching the deer, and spending time with family.

Billie was preceded in death by parents David and Pearl Laird, husband Eustace E. Spears, husband Marvin Haase, sister Reitchie Moon, and daughter Mary Alice Roche.

She is survived by daughters Cindy Hood and Carolyn Spears (Gary Parker); grandchildren Baker Bibb, Stephanie Rutledge (John), William Roche, Madelaine Parker, and Caitlin Roche; great-grandchildren Morgan Brown (Warren) and Blakely Allen; and great, great grandchildren Kye and Ila Brown.

Family and friends will miss Billie’s humor and spunk, and we’ll say goodbye as she would, “Be Sweet.”

Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Beaumont, followed by services at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

The families wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the care team of Synergy HomeCare and Becky Lee and the care team of Olive Branch Hospice.

Memorials or donations may be made to Olive Branch Hospice.