Cecil Billingsley

Cecil L. Billingsley, 82, of Cairo, Ill., formerly of Carmi, Ill., died Sunday, Nov. 17, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born April 26, 1920, in Cairo, son of Thomas J. and Sarrah C. O'Shea Billingsley. He first married Rosemary Bourland Billingsley, who preceded him in death. He and Louise Cutliph Wild were married April 27, 1996.

He was a member of the Cairo Elks Lodge 651, Cairo VFW Post 2641, the American Legion, the Carmi VFW Post, the Kiwanis Club of Carmi, the Better Breathers' Club of Cape Girardeau and the Presbyterian Church.

Billingsley was a graduate of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy of St. Louis, Mo., and was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II.

He is survived by his wife, Louise Billingsley of Cairo; one son, Terry Billingsley of Pinson, Ala.; one daughter, Marcia Prater of Morton, Ill.; one sister, Merle Brooks of Pasadena, Calif.; three stepsons, Charles Daniel Wild III of Marble Hill, Mo., Ted Wild of Pensacola, Fla., and John Wild of Cairo; one stepdaughter, Mary Richardson of Scott City, Mo.; two granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and 11 step great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo.

Funeral is at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jerome Fortenberry officiating. Graveside service will be at 1:30 at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Centralia, Ill. Burial will follow in the cemetery.