Long time resident and community advocate Billie M. Britt passed away May 25, 2011.
Bilie was born September 27, 1918.
Nominated for Senior of the Year in 2004, Billie has always put children and community first. Best known for her creation of the Copperopolis Easter Egg hunt where every child in Copper could participate, there were no gates, no rules, just come and have fun! Billie was involved heavily over the years in the Fashion Show fundraiser for the Library and an early literacy advocate; she investigated and supported as many ventures as possible to raise badly needed monies for the local library.
As time wore on and Billie's energy began to wane, her love of community never waivered. She continued to be a stable fixture at the Copper Fire Bingo every month, winning her fair share, but donating more than she ever seemed to win.
As residents mourn and share their stories, it becomes more apparant the many lives she touched.
A WWII Navy veteran proud of her history and her service. A mother, grandmother and pseudo mother to many in town, Billie's memory will not fade quickly.
A Memorial service will be held for Billie on June 18, 2011 at the Lake Tulloch Bible Church at 11:00 am.
In leiu of flowers it has been requested that donations be made to the Copperopolis Branch Library or the Copperopolis Volunteer firefighters Association in Billie's name.
When I had to move to a smaller place with my son, Casey, we had a real hard time finding a place. I was
ReplyDeleteonly getting about $500.00 a month and and couldn't afford much. Billie had an apartment above her house,
but it wasn't for rent. It was for her visiting guests and family members. She offered it to me and we lived there for about
a year. She was always looking for jobs for me with other people to help me keep up with everyday living.
She became "Mamma Billie" to me and Casey cause she was just like my own Mom. She was a very loving and giving
lady. She would always go out of her way to include us in events or gatherings that she was going to or involved in.
She worked with me with the commodity program for several years. Every year when she put on her StPatricks day
dinner at the outcast hall, she would always call me and ask me if I needed to make some money, cause she needed someone to
clean up the mess. Every easter, She would fill plastic eggs, and have casey and i hide them in one of the parks at poker flat.
She organized the whole thing. She went to stores after easter and asked for donations of stuffed animals to give out the following year. Every kid that came, hunted for eggs and left with a stuffed animal. She loved going to Reno, and once she gave me and my girlfriend a complimentary room that she had so we could go too!
It was the best weekend that I've had in a long time. She was 92 years old. Her birthday was September 27.
She was in the military. She told us how she had gone to partys with the kennedy's. I know that I could go
on and on about her. I'm really going to miss her...C. Chaix