Obituaries

Miriam Billings

Photo of Miriam Billings
Miriam Billings of Las Cruces, N.M. passed away on November 28, 2010. She was born to John and Mary Longfield in Colorado Springs, Colo. on July 18, 1921. Miriam grew up in Pueblo, Colo. and completed her bachelor's degree in 1943 at the present-day Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. Following graduation, she moved to St. Louis, Mo., where she worked in a TNT factory in support of the war effort and, later, for Ralston Purina. Following her passion for nursing, she entered a three-year course of instruction as a "Graduate Nurse" at the Beth-el School of Nursing of Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo. After becoming a Registered Nurse in 1947, she held several nursing and teaching positions in Colorado and New Mexico, including two years of service at the former Carrie Tingley Hospital for Crippled Children in Truth or Consequences, N.M. and one year as a Pediatric Supervisor at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M. She obtained her Master's degree in Nursing at the University of Texas in 1957, starting studies with a single semester at the Austin campus. During her first week of classes, she met James Billings, whom she ultimately married after seven years of long-distance correspondence. Miriam and her family lived in Quito, Ecuador as part of the Alianza para el Progreso (Alliance for Progress). Following her return to the United States, Miriam held positions as a Registered Nurse and as a Professor of Nursing in Arizona and Arkansas. Miriam and her husband moved to Del Rio, Texas in 1982, where she continued to teach nursing and was active in her local church and in the Cactus Twirlers square dance club. She enjoyed traveling and served on several Volunteers in Mission teams under the auspices of the United Methodist Church. One of her proudest accomplishments was her role in the construction and ongoing support of the Nueva Fuente de Vida (New Fountain of Life) children's home in Ciudad Acuna, across the Mexican border from Del Rio. Miriam and Jim moved to Las Cruces, N.M. in 2001, where they became active members of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and the Blue Belles square dance club. Miriam is survived by her loving husband of 48 years, Dr. James J. Billings and by her daughter, Karen Billings, both of Las Cruces. Family survivors include her brother and sister, Mark Longfield (Marie) of Pueblo, Colo. and Betty Brown (Maurice) of Sacramento, Calif., as well as two nieces and three nephews: Katie Stevenson (John) of Santa Fe, N.M., Doug Longfield, of Albuquerque, N.M., Joanne MacFarland (Doug) of San Jose, Calif., and by Ken Brown (Linda) and David Brown (Mary Sue) of Sacramento Calif. Miriam was preceded in death by her parents. A memorial service to celebrate Miriam's life will be held in the Health Care Center Chapel at the Good Samaritan Society – Las Cruces Village on Friday, December 3 at 2 p.m., with Rev. Joan Swanson officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Billings Nursing Scholarship Endowment at the Good Samaritan Society – Las Cruces Village (3025 Terrace Drive, Las Cruces, N.M. 88011) would be appreciated. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home and Getz Family Crematory, corner of Solano and Bowman Ave., Las Cruces, N.M. 575-526-2419. To sign the local online guest book go to www.GetzCares.com.

Published December 2, 2010

Upcoming Events