Edna Elizabeth Billingsley

Edna Elizabeth Billingsley passed away peacefully in Portland, Oregon on April 9, 2017 at the age of 93. Her final days were spent with family members by her side sharing love, comfort and decades of fond memories.

Born May 26, 1923 in Fulton, Kansas to Charles and Sarah (Marsh) Wimmer, Edna was a small town farm girl with a big city plan. She graduated in 1940 from Fulton High School, completed her training at Fort Scott College in 1942 and went on to become an elementary school teacher. After working for a brief stint at Beech aircraft in Wichita, Kansas, Edna made the brave trek to Portland where she secured a job at Rexall Drugs. She met Alvin Billingsley at the USO and after just one night of dancing, the two were inseparable. They married on October 10, 1946 and enjoyed 57 years of marriage until his passing in 2003. Together they had 4 children, 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. One of Edna’s biggest sources of joy over the years was supporting her ever-expanding family. In her spare time she loved bowling, camping, boating and water skiing. Edna was also an avid reader, puzzle solver and sports fan (let’s go Blazers and Mariners!) And although she later ran a successful wholesale floral business with her husband called Billingsley Evergreen, motherhood was always the main focus of her life. Even in her final moments, Edna relished the gregariousness and tender laughter of her youngest descendants.

She is survived by her 4 children: Cathy McNeeley, Nancy Blodgett, Barbara Eichhorn and Mike Billingsley, as well as her two sisters: Emma Bourdier of Fort Worth, Texas and Mary Ellen Carney of El Dorado Springs, Missouri. She is also remembered by her 29 grandchildren and great-grandchildren (23 of which are female… a fact that always made Edna smile)

Edna’s life will be celebrated on Sunday, April 16 at 11:30 am at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 11801 SE Mt. Scott Blvd. A reception at Lincoln Memorial will follow the service.