Billie Bernice Carriger, 93, of Joplin, Mo. died at 6:50 a.m. Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Joplin Health and Rehab, in Joplin, Mo. following an illness. Born July 15, 1929, in Riverton, Billie was the daughter of were James William and Lula Mae (Lewis) Smith. She was raised in the Riverton-Galena area. She was a graduate of Galena High School with the class of 1947.
Billie worked at Empire District Electric Company, in Joplin, Mo. in the accounting department, retiring in 1984. She had lived in Joplin the past two and half years, moving from Branson, Mo. where she had lived for 36 years. She was a member of Friendly Baptist Church, in Branson, Mo. She was a volunteer at Cox Hospital in Branson, Mo. and had worked in the hospital thrift store. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed knitting, crocheting and sewing. In fact, she made a lot of clothing for her daughter while she was growing up.
Billie and Earl Ray “Bud” Carriger Sr. were united in marriage February 29, 1948. He preceded her in death December 21, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one son, Earl Carriger Jr., and her siblings, Vernie, Grace, Belle, and Lula.
Billie is survived by her daughter, Linda Myers (Jim), of South Dakota; one daughter-in-law, Tina Carriger, of Baxter Springs; six grandchildren, Allison Lawman (Bryan), Joplin, Rebekah Romo (Tim), Joplin, Jeremy Carriger (Shawnell) Columbus, Erin Preys (Mike), South Dakota, Jamie Myers (Bree), South Dakota, and John Korzelius (Melissa), in Broken Arrow, Okla. and many great and great-great grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Monday, May 1 at Derfelt Funeral Home, in Galena. Paul Mooney officiated. Burial was at Hill Crest Cemetery, in Galena. Pallbearers were Tim Romo, Bryan Lawman, Cody Hall, Jamie Myers, Jeremy Carriger, and Nick Myers.