Billie Lou Criddle

Billie Lou Criddle, 92, formerly of Oak Ridge, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born March 21, 1931, in Evansville, Indiana, daughter of Willie G. and Agnes L. Dillender McCanless. She and Charles W. "Bill" Criddle were married Sept. 18, 1948, in Osceola, Arkansas. He passed away Feb. 18, 2019.

Billie served her country, along side Bill, during his 20-year career in the United States Air Force. They were stationed from southern Florida to northern Montana and the islands of Bermuda and various places in between. At each military base, Billie made a home for her family and volunteered at schools, churches and different committees. With her beautiful smile and caring ways, Billie made friends everywhere she went.

After retiring, Bill and Billie made their home in Oak Ridge, where they became a part of the community and attended First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. Billie is "Grandma Great" to eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Loving survivors include daughter, Donna Sue (Joe) Hoeh of Jackson; son, Charles Danny (Donna Marie) Criddle of Jackson; five sisters, Doris Adams, Betty Kinder and Saundra Hupp, all of Sikeston, Missouri, Patsy Criddle of Orlando, Florida, and Linda Anderson of Tavares, Florida; four brothers, Bobby McCanless of Camdenton, Missouri, Tommy and Keith McCanless, both of Sikeston, and Rocky McCanless of Thebes, Illinois.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter Karla; grandson Casey; three brothers, Jim, Dale and Elvis McCanless; and two sisters, Juanita Goines and Kathy Grigsby.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 6, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral service will follow at noon Friday, Oct. 6, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Cody Fleenor officiating. Burial will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on Billie's personal obituary tab at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.