Cleo Eloise (Jones) Billingsley

Cleo Eloise (Jones) Billingsley, 93, passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Glendale, AZ. Cleo was born on August 12, 1929 in Ira, Iowa, to Alta May Cross and Zenas Crane Jones. She attended school in Newton, Iowa, and graduated from Cottey College in Nevada, MO. She worked as a Medical Technologist at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, IL, before marrying her high school sweetheart, John Billingsley, in Eldora, Colorado.

In the 1950s Cleo and John lived in Iowa, Minnesota, and Alabama as they started a family while John completed his medical training and served in the Army. They settled in Fort Wayne, IN, for 25 years where Cleo was a member of PEO Chapter AB, the Medical Auxiliary, and was also a competitive golfer. She enjoyed her retirement years in Sun City West, AZ, where she had a hole-in-one just shy of her 80th birthday and celebrated 70+ years of PEO membership with Chapter DG.

Cleo is survived by her son, John Billingsley, and son, Jim Billingsley (Kristen), daughter-in-law Shelli Billingsley, beloved grandchildren, great-grandchild, and extended family: Tanner Billingsley (Shana); Shelby Bertl (Ryan); Sam Billingsley; Paige Billingsley; Vincent Haffner-Bertl; Max Hathorn; and Diane Butts.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dr. John Billingsley, son Joseph Billingsley, daughter-in-law Cyndi Billingsley, and siblings Lowell M. Jones, Verla E. Bosovich, Helen Vanderwerff, Mary Minear, and Keith Jones. 

Friends are welcome to gather for her memorial service followed by lunch at Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton, Iowa on Saturday, June 17th at 11:30 am. 

Memorial gifts in Cleo’s name may be made to Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin Blvd., Nevada, MO 64772 or https://cottey.edu/giving.

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