Joyce Harriet Ison Billingsley, 89, passed away April 10, 2024. Joyce often said that she was born, raised, educated, and married in the city of Detroit. Indeed, she was born in Detroit, Michigan, the first child of the late Sewell and Helen Beeson Ison. Joyce met her future husband, the late Jay Richard “Dick” Billingsley, when they both attended Cass Tech High School in Detroit. They married in 1956 in Detroit Metropolitan United Methodist Church. Together for 67 years of marriage, she dearly missed Dick since his passing March 21, 2023.Joyce was always a care giver. Knowing she wanted to be a nurse from a young age, she studied and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wayne State University (WSU) in 1956 and became a Registered Nurse. She returned to WSU and received her Master’s Degree in Education in 1984. She also attended Sloan-Kettering Enterostomal School in New York to become a certified Enterostomal Therapy Nurse. She later earned credentials as a National Certified Diabetes Educator. Her extensive nursing career began with the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Detroit. There Joyce reached patients in need in their homes. Her affiliation with the VNA spanned 23 years and included a year working for the Boston VNA and two-years working at Saratoga General Hospital in Detroit. Following her certifications, Joyce moved to Macomb Hospital in Warren, Michigan to lead patient education in Enterostomal and Diabetic care. After a move across the state, she continued her nursing career at Gerber Memorial Health Services in Fremont, Michigan and with Northern Michigan Diabetes Outreach. Wherever she was, Joyce was always an active member of her church. Joining, organizing, and leading groups as well as teaching Sunday School. She loved entertaining friends and family and joining in social events. An excellent cook and baker, she was known to host many gatherings at her home for holiday and birthday celebrations. Throughout the years, she and Dick also enjoyed an annual vacation and traveling to visit family and friends. Later in life, they loved to cruise. Upon retirement, Dick and Joyce opened the Crow’s Nest Bed and Breakfast in White Cloud, Michigan, which was a joy for them for 13 years. Their last move was to Copeland Oaks Senior Community in Sebring, Ohio. During their days in their Copeland Oaks villa, Joyce’s enthusiasm for entertaining continued with hosting parties, game nights, and Christmas Open Houses. Joyce loved her family and valued her many friends. She will be dearly missed by her children, Laura (Jim) Brodie, Kate (Brad) Mueller, Paul (Johanna) Billingsley, grandchildren Allison (Matt) Pawluk, James (Karlie) Brodie, Kurt Mueller, Jacob Mueller, Kayla Billingsley, and Drew Billingsley, and great grandchildren, Davin, Brooklyn, and James. She also is survived by her sister Gayle (David) Ison Vancil and brothers, Ken (Bobbi) Ison, and Neil (Elizabeth) Ison, and their children, Joyce’s nieces and nephews. Joyce treasured her lifelong friends, Patricia (John) Carrick and Patricia Falk. Dick and Joyce both were thankful for the time they enjoyed and the care they received at Copeland Oaks. Our family is especially appreciative for the care Joyce received on the 4th floor Assisted Living Memory Care and then at Crandall Medical Center. We are grateful to the team of caregivers on those floors.
A celebration of Joyce’s well lived life will be held this summer in Michigan, bringing her back to the city of Detroit. Memorials may be made to the Copeland Oaks Care Fund, Copeland Oaks, 800 South 15th Street, Sebring, OH 44672.
