Thursday, March 28, 2024

Virgie I. Billingsley

Virgie Irene Billingsley, age 81 years, a resident of Goreville and a former resident of Mattoon, Illinois from 1980 – 1997, passed away Thursday afternoon, February 22, 2018, at 1:46 PM at the Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Virgie was born October 30, 1936 in Goreville, Illinois. She was the 6th of 12 children born to Gus Lee Perry and Vertie Jewel (Thornton) Perry.

Virgie was united in marriage to William Fite in Indiana. She was later married to Dale Billingsley on August 30, 1997 at the Reynoldsburg Church in Johnson County Illinois. He survives.

Other survivors include: her daughters – Lisa D. Fite-Maynard and her husband Charles of Marion, Illinois and Tamera G. Fite-Cooley and her husband Jeff of Demotte, Indiana; 2 stepchildren – Eddie Dale (Sheila) Billingsley of Goreville and Paula (Charles) Atwood of Mascoutah; 8 grandchildren – Kara D. (Justin) Williams, Chelsea D. Lloyd, William K. (Sabrina) Fite, Kailee F.K. Howard, Sarah (Jeff) Jones, Rachel (Jason) Forby, Josh (Jordon) Billingsley, and Caleb Atwood; great grandchildren – Aleighna G. Lloyd, Keagan R. Bloodworth, Keyden P. Lloyd, Karter I. Fite, Noah K. Bruce, William J. Fite, Keegan Jones, Kanon Jones, Kellan Jones, Shea Forby, Emma Forby and Ryder Billingsley; 2 brothers – Kenneth Perry of Paulton and John Perry of Marion; 2 sisters – Wilma Stroud of Goreville and Juanita Deere of Mattoon; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

In addition to her parents, Virgie was preceded in death by her first husband, William Fite; a brother – Ernest Perry; 4 sisters – Fronie Wilson, Lorene Jolly, Lois Dean Billingsley, and Genevie Hancock; an infant sister and an infant brother.

Virgie was a 1954 graduate of Goreville High School. She was employed for over 18 years as the kitchen manager at the Little Mexico Restaurant in Mattoon.

Virgie was of the Baptist faith. During her marriage to Dale, Virgie faithfully attended and served in the churches where he pastored. She is remembered for her love of gardening, cooking and spending time with her loving grandchildren.

A service honoring the life of Virgie Billingsley will be conducted Monday, February 26, 2018, at 11 AM at Busby Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, 7715 State Route 37 North, Goreville, IL 62939.   Rev. Roger Roper will officiate. Burial will be in Busby Chapel Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Sunday, February 25, 2018, from 5 PM – 8 PM at Busby Chapel Church.

Memorials may be made to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 (www.dementiasociety.org)

To share a memory of Virgie or to leave an online message of condolence for her family, please visit www.baileyfh.com

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna.