Billa Louise (Wallen) Dane 1941 – 2020
On April 9th, 1941 our beautiful Mother entered the world in Little Paint, Kentucky. On Thursday July 23rd, 2020 she departed it, in West Monroe, LA. I was once told that it is not about the time you are here, but what you do with the time. Mom lived a good life, a well life, a happy life. She leaves behind her children (5) and (2) unofficially adopted children with plenty of memories and love to pass down for generations to come. Mom being a single mother struggling to raise us, believed in sparing the rod, but not the switch. Mom was a proud Union Steward where she worked for 30 years as a C N A and loved and took pride in the work she did. Every Christmas, which was her favorite time of the year the stockings were the first thing up, she took pleasure in hanging up all of her children’s and grandchildren’s stockings – each had their own name.
As a proud mother of 7, Grandmother of 16 and Great Grandmother of 30 she passed many life lessons down to us all, many covered in humor as was her way. “Always wear clean underwear you never know what is going to happen, always read something because there is always a new story or adventure behind those book covers” and of course,“Stop making that face,it will freeze and then what will you do?” Mom loved reading, Olive Garden, QVC, the Food Network and was a serious clothes horse – how many pairs of black pants does a person need to own?
Mom is preceded in death by her loving parents Ollie Wallen and Leslie “Myrtle” Thornsbury Wallen, her siblings Ivan Wallen, Ralph Wallen, John Wallen and her beloved sister Elva Wallen Rupert. She is survived by her children: Pamela S Brown of Lincoln Park, MI, Ollie Dane and wife Sandy of Ypsilanti, MI, Louise Greer and husband Steve of Gibraltar, MI, Barbara Brown and husband Richard of Bon Aqua, TN, and Brenda Dane of Monroe, LA., Paul Rodney Ross and wife Sara Lynn of Ypsilanti, MI, and Chuck Sprinkle and wife Janice of Gladstone, MI. Marmie is the name her 16 grand Children and 30 great-grand children will remember her by, Mom, Aunt B or friend is what the rest of us will remember her by.
Mom made broken look beautiful, strong look invincible, she walked with the universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings. Heaven gained an angel today – we called her Mom and will forever miss her – until we meet again – WE LOVE YOU!!!!