An amazing woman, Billie Williams was born June 2, 1933 in Draper, Kentucky to Carrie and Bill Buchanan. Her wit and love for music and things artistic surfaced early in life and developed into a smiling, generous woman who was an outstanding pianist, seamstress, and craftsperson. Her love and devotion to God and her family were always evident in Billie’s daily life.

After business school in Corbin, Kentucky, Billie moved to Louisville where she worked for Eastern Airlines, took classes at the University of Louisville, earned her pilot’s license and met the love of her life, Jimmy Williams, an Ozarks Airlines employee. Sixty-one years of marriage saw them living first in Iowa City where Kari was born, then in Willard/Springfield where second child, John, was born. In addition to supporting their children’s varied school activities the family was very active in the First Baptist Church of Springfield and Willard. Billie’s service through the church included Sunday School teacher, librarian, camp sponsor and pianist.

A tireless woman, Billie also designed and contracted their two lovely area homes which she loved to share with extended family and friends through parties and picnics. This time period and following also saw her working for Frisco/Burlington-Northern for many years, traveling the world with Jimmy, writing children’s stories, dabbling in genealogy, helping to build fences and raise cattle and more and more.

Billie was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Kari and her husband, Jimmy; her parents and her sister, Jean. Survivors are her loving son, John (Sherry), son-in-law, Mike Gilbert, grandsons Cameron (Rylee) and Sean (Winter) and eight great grandchildren, sister, Sue, and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Billie will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Greenlawn Funeral Home North at 3:00 pm with a visitation on Friday, March 6, 2020 from 6:00 until 8:00. Burial will follow the services at Clear Creek Cemetery.