James Billings,'s Obituary
"The world has lost a good and loving man”
James Lee Billings Sr., son of Bradley W. and Bessie B. Longan Billings, was born May 1, 1934 in Denver, Colorado and departed this life on May 1, 2009 on his seventy-fifth birthday in Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Missouri.
On August 13, 1951 he was united in marriage to Mina “Jean” Dunbar and to this union 8 children were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Jean on September 8, 2003; a son, James Billings Jr.; a brother Brad Billings as well as other loved ones.
James is survived by six daughters; his youngest daughter Joan Latimer and her husband Chris of Willow Springs, Missouri; Mina Sanders, Bonnie Dean and Dianne Boles all of the State of Colorado; Cindy Deshmer of the State of Nevada and Linda Barton of the State of Kansas; one son Clinton Billings of the State of Michigan; two granddaughters, Melissa Latimer and Diane Brown and husband LeRoy as well as other grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister, Georgia Ward of the State of Colorado; a half-brother and half-sister; three brother-in-laws, Ralph Dunbar and wife Margo, Alvin “Duke” Dunbar and wife Faye all of Mansfield, Missouri and Bob Grzozko of the State of Indiana; sister-in-law, Ruth Dunbar of Mansfield, Missouri as well as other relatives and friends.
James was raised in Boulder, Colorado where he met and married Jean, the love of his life. He was a machinist and had many jobs during his lifetime including owning his own garage in Texas where he repaired automobiles. He was especially good at repairing carburetors. After moving his family to Mansfield to be near wife’s family he worked at a plumbing shop, drove a milk hauling route for J.D. Porter, worked at Hutchens Steel Plant in Mansfield, was a supervisor at Bass Tracker in Lebanon and his last job was working at Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Store in Mansfield before retiring. He was a very happy and proud member of Seymour Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows Lodge and the York Rite.
James treasured the time he had with Jean before her passing and being with the rest of his family and friends.
In his spare time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading westerns, traveling and his bird George.
James was kind person with a big laugh. We celebrate his life and will cherish the memories.
Services will be 10:30 A.M. Friday, May 8, 2009 in Holman-Howe Chapel, in Mansfield, Missouri with Ray Brazeal officiating.
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