Billie Gail Boston

Billie Boston was born September 22, 1939 in Oklahoma City, OK to Margaret & William Barrett Long. She passed away peacefully on July 14, 2026, just 2 months shy of her 87th Birthday, with her son and daughter by her side. Billie was predeceased by her parents and in 2006 by her husband, William C. Boston, Jr., She is survived by her son William C. Boston III, her daughter Kathryn Wolff and husband Carson; three Granddaughters, Ashley Jacobs and husband Travis; Amber Reinecke and husband Brad; Alyssa Miller and husband Mike; and eight Great Grandchildren. Billie is also survived by her two cousins, William Townsend, Cleveland, OH & Johnna Bess Vogel, Oklahoma City, OK. Billie attended high school in Durant, OK and received her Master of Fine Arts in Drama from the University of Oklahoma in 1962.

Billie enjoyed her association and participation in Town Hall, Junior Hospitality, Alpha Chi Sorority, the Divas, Thursday Book Club and the Care Committee at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church.

Her professional career began at U.S. Grant High School as their Speech/Drama/English Teacher. Then, following stints as Costume Designer for Ballet Oklahoma and as Lyric Costume Designer, she and OCU began their 24-year mutually beneficial relationship. At retirement, her title was Professor/Costume Design which included designing all costumes used in university productions, teaching History of Costume, Costume Design, Stage Make-up, Costume Lab, Screen/Video Make-up, Costume Cutting and Technical Problems of Costumes. Billie was particularly proud of receiving the Governor’s Achievement Award, the Lady in the News Award, and her time spent in 1966-67 as Assistant to Designer Karinski of New York, New York City, N.Y. and in 2022 she was inducted in the OCU School of Theatre Hall of Honor. Other awards and recognitions are numerous. Her designs won the Excellence in Costume Design Award from The Kennedy Center, American College Theatre Festival twice. During her career, she designed costumes for theatre, opera, ballet and major events across the country, including her work at the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Ballet Oklahoma, which included Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo Oklahoma. Her costume designs for “Little Shop of Horrors” were used by Red Oak Music Theatre in Lakewood, New Jersey and her costume designs for “Mame” were rented to Connecticut, starring Patrice Munsell. Her designs for ”Carousel” were used by the Mobile Light Opera in Alabama and by Jupiter Theatre in Juno Beach, Florida. She designed the Dolly costumes worn by Joanne Worley in the Sacramento and the Houston’s Tutt’s Theatre productions. She designed “Kiss Me Kate” and “Showboat” for the Opera House Theatre Co. of Willington, North Carolina, and “Phantom” for Music Theatre of Wichita. She also designed for Jewel Box Theatre of OKC, BBC, Children’s Theatre, the Winter Olympics Skating Events and the 1988 Miss America Pageant. She earned the Leon Rabin Award for Costume Design of a Musical. Billie was a very busy lady--but adored what she was doing and always had time for those she dressed – particularly those students at OCU whom she dearly loved -- many with whom she still remained in touch. Billie Boston can best be described as an exceptional creative talent. She truly loved God, her family and friends and her puppy Button.

Visitation will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper, 6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK 731161298, US, on July 30, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will take place at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, 1212 Bedford Dr, Nichols Hills, OK 73116, US, on July 31, 2026, starting at 1:00 pm.

A Committal Service will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13313 North Kelley, Oklahoma City, OK 73131, US, on July 31, 2026.