MORRIS LEROY “IKE” BILLINGSLEY

Morris Billingsley

Morris LeRoy “Ike” Billingsley, 93, of Camden died at 5:08 a.m. June 29, 2020, at his home.

He was born Dec. 8, 1926, in Salem Township, McDonough County, a son of Clarence Arthur and Gladys Cornelia Morris Billingsley. He married Helen Marie Norvell on March 9, 1957, in Mount Sterling. She survives.

Also surviving are three children, Mike (and Marian) Fretueg of Rushville, Teresa (and Brian) Haines of Huntsville and Doug (and Becky) Billingsley of Camden; 10 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and four siblings, Rosalie Morrell of Camden, Betty (and Bill) Etter of Rushville, Barbara (and Dick) Taylor of Burlington, Iowa, and Wayne (and Twila) Billingsley of Crossville, Tenn.

He was preceded in death by six brothers, Clarence E. “Buss” (and Imogene) Billingsley, James “Rude” (and Birdie) Billingsley, Robert (and Harriet) Billingsley, Lester “Abe” Billingsley, Harold Billingsley and Donald Billingsley; and one sister, Lucille (and Adrian) Finch.

He first worked as a bulldozer operator for Morris Morrell in Camden. He then served as a Sergeant in the United States Army in Korea from Nov. 29, 1950, to Sept. 27, 1952, earning the Korean Service Metal with two Bronze Stars. After the war, he worked for a short time at International Harvester in Canton. He then become a grain and livestock farmer, partially retiring in 2010. He was awarded the Master Farmer Award by the Schuyler Ag Day Committee in 2015.

He attended Camden United Methodist Church and was a member of the Schuyler American Legion Post #4.

Due to the current health crisis, a private service will be held Thursday at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville with Pastor Dan Wise officiating. Friends are invited to stop at the funeral home to sign the register book, leave a memorial and pay their respects from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Mount Sterling Catholic Cemetery, with military rites by the U.S. Army Burial Detail and the American Legion.

Memorials may be made to Cass-Schuyler Area-Hospice, Hope Blooms, Camden United Methodist Building Fund or Culbertson Memorial Hospital Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Condolences may be sent to www.woodfh.net.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 7/1/2020