Billie Palmer

October 7, 1926 - September 13, 2010 Wilma Louise Billie Bates was born October 7, 1926, to Nina and Lew Blakesley. She had two older sisters, Bette Lou and Zoe. When Billie was 6 she moved to Seattle, Washington. When she was 16 she got a job at Woolworth's; she also worked at Frederick and Nelson's Department Store as an elevator girl. Billie contracted tuberculosis at age 17. Her mother decided to sell their home and take Billie to Arizona where supposedly the dry heat would cure her. Billie then spent 2 years in a bed in the screened-in back porch of a house with no cooling. When she was able to get up from bed rest, her mother returned to Seattle and Billie stayed in Phoenix. She moved into a boarding house and thought that was a blast. Even at that early age, Billie was always early to appointments and ever conscious of the rules of dress and manners. She got a job right away at Dangerous Dan McGrew´s Print Shop as a bookkeeper. She was married at 21. She and her husband moved to Seattle where her first child was born on her 22nd birthday. In between the births of their next 3 children, she held jobs as a bookkeeper, secretary and

receptionist. When she was 30 years old, the family moved to Fresno, California. She worked as a dental assistant until the birth of their 5th child; she then took real estate classes and got her license. She separated from her husband and shortly thereafter walked into the office of a broker that she met through the real estate schools, who hired her without a question (she later admitted that she was almost in tears while talking with him). He said, "Fine, fine, go out to the office and get a desk, it´s

fine, fine." Looking back Billie said, "What a kick, but it worked." Without any decent professional clothes, she got 2 different skirts and 4 different blouses to mix and match -- and went to work! She sold the house they were in (on her license) and moved from 2800 sq. ft. to 950 sq. ft. The 4 girls and 2-year-old boy piled all their things into a 14-foot trailer that they hooked to her car, and then made 7 trips in one day (the last one moved the whole swing set). She held a garage sale and sold their piano, freezer and a lot of furniture, which got her some working money until she could sell a house. The kids walked to school every day while she dropped off her youngest at a nursery. The older kids picked him up after school and fixed the dinner; Billie would come home to dinner fixed as the kids scattered to do their jobs. After she got everyone into bed, she would make real estate calls until it was too late. She would then sew or repair clothes for the girls, do washing, ironing, etc., and then collapse into bed. Many times when she was down to a few dollars and had no escrows in sight, she would sell a house and have it close in 7 days. That was God helping her to keep it together, and it was always so surprising and so appreciated. The family got by and she became an excellent realtor; she continued in the business for 35 years.

When she began working at Guarantee Realty at Shaw and West, she soon became the office manager. Known for her organizational skills and attention to detail, the office staff, in good-natured admiration and respect, gave her a whip, which was mounted above her door. She met many friends along the way; several very good friends became like family to her over the years and she was devoted to them. Billie was truly blessed when God introduced her to James Estes Palmer on May 7, 1977; they married on October 8, 1977. In her words "Life became so grand. No wife could have a kinder, more loving or more caring husband than my truly southern gentleman,

Jim Palmer." She remained very happily married to Jim until his death on April 29th, 2007. Billie lost most of her sight shortly after that, and yet continued to live independently as the incredibly strong person that she always had been. During her life, Billie faced tremendous challenges - including a brain tumor, cancer and other health challenges - with great determination, perseverance and faith. In fact, her faith in God ran deep and was an inspiration to others. Her relationship with Trinity Church in recent years was a great encouragement to her. She never lost her ability to laugh through any of the challenges. She was a classy lady.

Billie was preceded in death by her husband, James Estes Palmer; mother Nina K. Trelstad; sister Bette Lou Kendrick; and grandson, Ian Wind. Billie is survived by her 5 children: Susan Early, Cindy Carter, Nancy Langley and her husband Greg, and Colleen Carter and her husband Bruce Bowen. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren:

Colleen and her husband Eddie Chao, David Langley and his wife Heather, Jonathan, Katy, Christopher and Nathan Langley, Hillary Carter-Liggett and her husband, Danny Hartigan, Garrett Liggett, Justin Gonsowski, Dakota Damico and Hannah Bowen; as well as her 4 great-grandchildren: Aaron and Kylie Langley and Roisin "Rose" Hartigan and Magdalyn "Maggie" Hartigan. Billie loved and was devoted to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and received great joy from them always.

A graveside service will be held at Belmont Memorial Park on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 at 10:00 A.M., followed by at Memorial Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 12168 N. Willow Road, Clovis, CA 93612 at 11:30 A.M. Remembrances may be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church, Clovis, CA

Arrangements under the direction of Lisle Funeral Home, Fresno, CA.