Barbara J. Billings

Barbara J. Billings formerly of Greenville, died Friday, May 28, 2021 while residing at the Edison Christian Health Center in Grand Rapids, MI. She was born on her grandfather’s farm west of Hubbardston, MI in Ionia County, the daughter of William and Iva (Hillabrandt) Rogers, on October 15, 1926. Barbara graduated from St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Hubbardston on June 3, 1943. The following year, she attended Ionia-Montcalm County Normal earning her teaching certificate. She taught five years in rural schools in Ionia county including the elementary grades at Matherton and Hubbardston. On December 31, 1946, she married her school sweetheart, Jack Billings. They moved to Greenville from Hubbardston with their two daughters, Rosemary and Sara, in 1954. In 1955, a son, Michael, joined the family. Once all three children were in school, Barbara began substitute teaching in the Greenville school system and later, 5th and 6th grades at St. Charles Catholic School, for ten years. The family spent many summer vacations at Silver Lake near the sand dunes before building a cottage at Higgins Lake. Barbara and her husband retired in 1979 and spent over 30 winters in their home south of Tampa in Ruskin, FL. They enjoyed travel and visited Canada, Mexico and all 50 states. Also, Barbara took two trips to the British Isles with emphasis on Ireland. Barbara enjoyed her collections of books, birds, bears, beanie babies, and her Tom Clark gnomes. Her main priorities in life were her faith, family and friends. She and her husband were married 65 ½ years before Jack’s passing in 2012. Also preceding her in death were her parents, brother, Robert Rogers, and two grandchildren, Lori Brunner and Joshua Billings. She is survived by her daughter, Rosemary (Randy) Brunner, Parrish, FL; her daughter, Sara (Ian) Garnett, Ruskin, FL; and son, Mike (Sandy) Billings, Spokane, WA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Mary Jo (Al) Maleport, Brian Morris, Jennie (Raoul) Tavarez and Jamie Billings; special niece Diana Tait, special cousin, Mary Lee Moody, great-grandchildren, many other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral mass will be held on a later date at St. Charles Catholic Church in Greenville where Barbara and Jack were members since 1954. Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Hubbardston. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made to the Edison Christian Life Services or Faith Hospice, both in Grand Rapids, Michigan.