Barbara S Billings

Barbara Shutt Billings of Rocklin, California, died on her 95th birthday, December 25, 2017. She was born at home on Christmas Day 1922 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Albert and Doris Shutt. That day carolers outside the house sang "For unto us a son is given", and Doris said "Tell them it's a girl."

On March 20, 1942, she married Byron Billings and they celebrated their 70th year of marriage before he died on January 2, 2013. During World War II, while Byron served in the Army, Barbara worked for a time in an airplane factory in San Diego. After the war, Byron returned from Europe and they settled near their large family in Salt Lake City. In 1969, Byron was transferred to Portland, Oregon, and they created many lasting friendships there, before moving to Rocklin California in 2010.

Barbara was an excellent cook. Her Sunday dinners were an institution. She loved gardening, making flower arrangements, reading mystery novels and travel. Her last trip abroad was to France and Italy when she was 91 years old.

She was an active member of the LDS Church and she served in many different capacities, including several times as ward Relief Society president.

Barbara was much loved and will be greatly missed. Her ready answer and sharp wit were the delight of her family and friends right up to the last week of her life. She loved Christmas and the Christmas season, and it is both remarkable and fitting that she was born and died on that special day.

Barbara is survived by her children, Susan Neal, Gregory (Bernadette) Billings and Roger (Mary Luz) Billings, her son-in-law Bill Christensen, her brother David Shutt, and her brother-in-law Robert "Buss" Stevenson, and eighteen grandchildren and twenty-nine great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Gayle Christensen, her son-in-law Dean Neal, her brothers Calvin Shutt, Ralph Shutt and George Shutt, and her sister Heather Bartlett.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday January 2, 2018 at 11:00 AM, at the LDS Church located at 2610 Sierra Meadows Drive, Rocklin, California 95677. There will be a viewing at the same location at 10:00 AM.

Barbara will be interred alongside her husband Byron at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery located in Dixon, California. A brief grave-side service will take place the next day on January 3, 2017 at 11:00 AM.