Jimmy Billingsley

Born: July 26, 1932  Died: January 25, 2014

BILLINGSLEY, JIMMY CARLYSLE (JIM) - 81, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 25, 2014. Born July 26, 1932 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma to Carlysle Byron and Vera Jane Billingsley, he served in the 868th Field Artillery Battalion during the Korean War. He married his beloved wife Jo on July 3, 1952, shortly before his induction into the Army. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Tulsa University in 1958, and worked at the University of Tennessee Press for 20 years as Design & Production Director. He retired from the Texas A&M University Press in 1992, returning to Knoxville with Jo so they could be near their children and grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and was happiest when all of his family was in one room. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son Craig and wife Ginger, and daughter Denise Chesney and husband Bill, all of Knoxville; grandchildren Erin Tucker and husband Matt of Antioch; Ashley Cross and husband Carter; Will Chesney and Ben Chesney, all of Knoxville; great-granddaughter Hannah Grace Tucker of Antioch; and several nieces and nephews. The family extends their thanks to the staff at Clarity Pointe in Farragut, for their outstanding care of Jim and their continued wonderful care of Jo. They would also like to thank Avalon Hospice and Ben Atchley State Veterans' Home for their exemplary service. A celebration of life will be held in the Asbury Chapel at Cokesbury United Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 29 at 1:00 pm. A patriot until the very end, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Wounded Warrior Project (P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675) or to The Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley (P.O. Box 51723, Knoxville, TN 37950). Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Billingsley family. www.clickfh.com

Published in Knoxville News Sentinel on Jan. 28, 2014