Billings, Jesse N. 1911-1959

BILLINGS, ALLISON, UPCHURCH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/7/2012 at 07:50:40

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; May 25, 1959

JESSE N. BILLINGS STRICKEN, DIES SUNDAY MORNING

Jesse N. Billings, 47, died suddenly Sunday morning at his home in Grinnell. Funeral services will be at 1:30 Wednesday at the Methodist church with Dr. G.S. Bruland officiating.

Organist will be Mrs. Kathleen Heffner. Pallbearers will be Francis Walling, Gene Tyree, Bill Weeks, Dr. James C. Searls, Don Lewis, and Marion Onthank. Mr. and Mrs. I.R. Howell will have charge of the flowers.

Masonic graveside services will be conducted by Hermon Lodge No. 273 of Grinnell. Burial will be in Chester cemetery.

Born July 26, 1911, at Davies County, Ind., he was the son of Mel Elsworth and Josie Ora Alllison Billings. When he was 16 years old he came to Iowa and worked for a time in Des Moines. For the last 15 years he had been employed by the Iowa Southern Utilities Co. as a lineman.

In 1936 he moved to Grinnell and in 1938, on Jan. 23, was united in marriage with Lilly Lorena Upchurch at the Chester church. To this union was born one daughter, Josie Lee, a senior at Grinnell (high) school.

He was a member of the Methodist church, Hermon lodge No. 273, Palestine Chapter No. 143, Royal Arch Masons, both of Grinnell; the Oriental Commandery No. 22 at Newton; and King Solomon Council No. 20 at Marshalltown. He had held a number of offices in these Masonic organizations including "Past High Priest" in Palestine Chapter No. 143 and "Generalissimo" in the Oriental Commandery No. 22.

Mr. Billings is survived by his wife and daughter; his parents living in Indiana; six brothers, Raymond of Des Moines, Howard, Noble, Robert, and Merle of Washington, Ind., David of New Albany, Ind.; and four sisters, Mary, Hazel, and Lulu Belle of Washington, Ind., and Emma Jane of Louisville, Ky.