Billee Val Williams Fisher

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Billee Val Granny Babe Williams Fisher, age 92 of Stillwater, entered Glory, rejoining Bill, her husband of 62 years, Friday evening, March 14, 2008 from Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City after a separation of twelve years. Mrs. Fisher was born on her grandfathers original Land Run claim outside of Stillwater on August 31, 1915. She was the daughter of Pioneers Albert Davis and Bertha (Hager) Williams. Billee, known all her life as Babe and later as Granny Babe, grew up in and attended school in Stillwater, graduating from Stillwater High School and attending Oklahoma A&M for two years after previously having been transferred out of state to attend college to keep her away from that Fisher boy. It didnt work. Billee eloped with Wilbert H. Fisher of Stillwater to Chandler in 1933 in a car borrowed from his uncle. She later withdrew from Oklahoma A&M to help her husband carry his excessive Engineering course load schedule through College, auditing classes for him when he had up to three classes meet at the same time, and taking notes for him to study for his top earned marks. Mr. Fisher preceded her through death in 1995. After having spent over two decades as a housewife, Billee began her career in 1960 as the first female Realtor in Stillwater and one of the first in the state of Oklahoma. She enjoyed working with Lloyd Daugherty in his Realty agency, who with his wife Dora, remained long time close friends after her retiring in 1976. She was a former member of the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater but with her husband Bill, joined Hillcrest Baptist Church in Stillwater where she was a member for twenty-four years. She now continues loving and serving the Lord as she has all her life, having so looked forward to joining her husband Bill in the presence of Jesus. Her hobbies included oil painting; collecting and studying antiques, crystal and oil lamps; studying the Bible, history, archeology and geography; traveling; and sharing history with school children in Arkansas and Oklahoma. One of her greatest thrills was parasailing nearly 1,000 feet in the air at the age of 81 in the Bahamas while on a trip with her son Bill, his wife Janet and granddaughter Alyssa. She had been exercising her body daily in the hospital for a return flight. Id go again today if I could! She has been able to enjoy an even greater flight while departing from the hospital. She was very proud of her family heritage, enjoying telling the stories of how her grandfathers had made the Land Run of 89, after having both been Abolitionists (with one of them having his fathers Kentucky plantation burned by local slave-owners because her family offered it as a way stop for the Underground Railroad), then both serving in the Union Army; one having been on the first Goodnight-Loving Cattle Drive from Texas to Colorado, then driving cattle up the Great Western and Chisholm Trails to Kansas, later homesteading a ranch on East Spanish Peak above Agular, Colorado, only to leave when Babes aunt died of Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever as a young girl, to take his family and sorrow east to farm in Kansas prior to the Run into the Un-Assigned Land; how her father had been a cowboy for a Pawnee Indian rancher, as well as cowboying on a large ranch in the Osage Nation before becoming a Territorial lawman prior to statehood and a County and City law officer afterwards, having made all five Land Runs as a young man for the thrill of the ride. Granny Babe made history come alive for her family, friends and acquaintances and for hundreds, if not thousands of history students and lovers, both young and old. Her husband Bill was the love of her life on this Earth, their having been introduced at a church high school picnic after Bill launched a well aimed pecan at the back of her head from up in the tree from which he was shaking loose pecans for others to gather. His servants heart was as striking as his pecan tossing. Granny Babe was found of telling young girls and young couples that she was the first girl her Bill had ever dated and that she had been blessed all her life, from the parents she chose, to the husband she chose, to the kids that she chose. Bill was the University Engineer for the Architects Department at OSU. He also served for a period as the City Engineer for Stillwater under Mayor Alcott. Mrs. Fisher served as a Cub Scout Den Mother for all three of her sons Packs and was an original Henry Bellmon Belle, being a staunch, conservative Republican all her life and loving her country and countrymen, no matter what race, color or creed to which they belongedeven Democrats. She enjoyed helping others through her volunteer work at the Sheerar Museum, St. Andrews Thrift Store and at the ICU waiting room in the Stillwater Medical Center where Bill was known for many years as their Miracle Man. They retired for a number of years to a second home on Beaver Lake by Rogers, Arkansas and made many more new and enduring friends. Billee and her Bill spent many wonderful moonlit nights out on the lake- fishing, talking and just enjoying each others company and their romance as they had almost all of their lives. Their local church in Rogers had baptisms in their backyard, Bible studies on their deck overlooking the lake and many church parties in their home. She and her husband served on the board of a Christian School in Rogers, Arkansas and were instrumental in helping establish and support Trinity Christian School at Hillcrest Baptist in Stillwater throughout its operation. She enjoyed visiting with her old Realtor friends, gathering for lunch and stories. Mom said to tell everyone that she Loved them as much as a piece of cheese in reference to an endearing parting statement from a young great-nephew. This became her parting words for friends, family members and loved ones everywhere. The family wishes to thank the many friends, church members and medical caregivers who have been with her during her final and only major illness. But this was an illness leading to perfect peace, health and Life, for which she was truly Thankful and longing to experience. She is survived by three sons, William A. Fisher and wife Janet of Edmond, Oklahoma, Davis Allen Fisher and wife Julia of Sacramento, California, Curtis Hoy Fisher and wife Scottie of Rogers, Arkansas; three grandchildren, Alyssa B. R. Fisher of Edmond; Keith A. and Katherine Fisher of Gunnison, Colorado with one great-granddaughter Elian; and Brian F. and Sonya F. Sava, currently of Alice Springs, Australia. She was preceded through death by her parents, husband, four sisters and their dear husbands of many years. Her Celebration Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Stillwater with Reverend John Ware and Pastor John Dickey officiating. Interment will follow in the Glenwood Cemetery with a Thursday morning graveside service at 9 am. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Palmer Marler Carberry Funeral Home of Stillwater. Those who wish to make Memorials to Hearts and Hands International online may access it through their website at www.HeartsandHandsInternational.Org . H&H folders and envelopes will also be available at Granny Babes Celebration. Granny Babe asked that notes of fond memories and fun times be shared for her Celebration. This can be done via PMCs online guestbook at www.pmcfh.com OR bring them with you to the Celebration. Visitation will be Monday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Mom, well see you later. Cheese!