Wendy Elaine Billingsley

Wendy Billingsley, 63, late of Bacliff, Texas, passed peacefully on to Jesus on December 11, 2022 surrounded by family as Psalm 91 was sung. She is preceded in death by her parents Rosemary and James, her sisters Etta, Jamie, and Lulu, and her non-simultaneous husbands Tony and Steve.

Wendy is survived by her children—daughter Summer and her husband Andrew Kinard, daughter Alyssa and her husband Daniel Avila, daughter Kristin Barnett, son Tony Barnett, Jr., and stepchildren Michelle Billingsley and Jamey Whitaker—, her eleven grandchildren—Michael, Lucas, Jaiden, Ana, Bri, Sophie, Melanie, John, Basil, Rosie, and Catherine—, her siblings James (Jackie) Ervin, Keely (Alan) Alsdorf, Joe Ervin, Paula Wilson, and Donnie (Gerry Anne) Ervin, Jason (Christie) Ervin and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, of whom she was very fond and who made her smile. While we have not listed all of their names due to the length of the list, these extended family members, like her nearer kin, were dear to Wendy and were a source of great joy and pride to her. She remembered every one of them. Her ability and joy in listing large networks of people and their relationships with thoughtful details was so much a part of life with Wendy that she unconsciously made all of those who knew her feel like they knew everyone she knew. Wendy shared her gift of making connections with her beloved survivors, who can better remember each other and follow the plots of intricate novels and TV shows because of her guidance and example.

Her greatest accomplishments in life were in building relationships through her willingness to listen to and love people with her ready good humor and vivid storytelling. Wendy was the kind of person for whom the world and especially the people in it seemed to shine. Every place and every person was beautiful to her. She gave everyone who knew her a sense of being graciously and unconditionally accepted that they will all treasure. Over the years she engaged in many creative and life-building endeavors such as woodworking pelicans, tending vibrant herb, flower, fruit, and vegetable gardens, making butterfly and Christmas crafts, and of course, reading. No one who knew her can think of a garden or the beach without thinking of her. She loved history and novels and the insights one could gain about people from being in a place with them. Wendy loved exploring old or abandoned buildings, and she passed that interest onto her children. She loved trees so much that she would send people on an errand by a special route so they could see especially nice, old trees. Wendy leaves behind a house-sized stack of books that she finished reading and only a doghouse-sized stack of books To Be Read.

Wendy was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren. Some of her favorite recent memories with her children include wade fishing with T.J., watching Charmed with Kristin, enjoying the ocean with Boo-Boo, and coffee and puzzles at Summer’s. She loved to hear from her grandchildren and enjoyed video chatting and visiting them in person to listen to them talk about their interests such as school, music, football, drawing, crochet, archery, hairstyles, dolls, and their daily tales. She loved to see their faces. The grandchildren fondly cherish having snacks with their Grammy at her house and theirs, playing in her yard, playing games and puzzles with her, having her over for parties, and getting to share the things they played or read or drew or made with her, including demonstrating their musical skills and showing her the beautiful crochet and craft projects that they made.

In her final week, Wendy adopted her daughter’s dog Doctor Horatio Biscuit into her heart, and they were fast friends. She adopted people even quicker. If you were her friend, Wendy loved you wholly and right away, and she didn’t stop loving you. Her last words were, “I love you,” spoken when we mentioned family, followed by mouthing the beginning of the prayer, “Our Father.” That was Wendy, seeing everyone as kin and God as one who claimed us all and did such a great job making everyone good. Wendy’s bright green eyes and glowing smile conveyed this sense of dignity and appreciation to everyone privileged to be looked upon by her.

She bequeaths to all who knew her, her love of coffee, reading, history, gardening, the beach, dogs, horses, song birds, and especially children. Wendy wants everyone to know that if you’re thinking of her, she’s thinking of you, and she loves you. When you see a cardinal or a dove, she wants you to remember her.