Billie Rozella Johnson Cloud

The apple of her father's eye and the beautiful image of her mother, Billie Rozella Johnson left this earth for Heaven on December 16, 2022. She was born to Ole Martin Johnson and Della Maggie Kile in Mannsville, Oklahoma on July 25, 1929. As a child, she was equal parts sweet and spunky, known for her joyful spirit and lovely singing voice. She could often be found sitting next to her Norwegian father by his potbelly stove listening to his stories and sharing a chocolate-covered cherry each New Year's Eve at midnight. A little ornery, she would bury her black draught (an old-fashioned cure-all) in the dirt in her family's backyard but always confessed when her Mama questioned her obedience.The family moved to Haileyville, Oklahoma where she grew to adulthood. She was an outstanding student and a town beauty. After graduation, she traveled to the big town of Oklahoma City and worked for First National Bank. She met her husband of 56 years, James Wayland Cloud, who preceded her in death in 2006. He was a good-looking, curly-headed, bombastic young gentleman who had just returned from World War II when he set his sights on her at a function of the First Christian Church, exclaiming that if she could guess his middle name he would take her to dinner. After a thousand hints, she guessed correctly and the rest is history. Jim and Billie had four children together: James Wayland, Jr. (Randi) who both joined James Wayland, Sr. in Heaven in April 2022 and March 2021, Susan Williams (Steve), Pamela Harrell, and Lisa Dickerson (Chris). She was beyond proud of nine grandchildren: Jason Williams (Mandy), Robert Williams, Brad Williams (Christy), M'liss Williams, Ryan Williams, Phillip Harrell, Matthew Harrell (Bobbie), Elizabeth Cloud, and Eden Dickerson. She was also blessed with fifteen great-grandchildren: Patrick Williams, Cassie Williams, Olivia Williams, Chandler Williams, Rylee Williams, Parker Williams, Jacob Williams, Abigail Williams, Katie Williams, Jessica Williams, Savannah Williams, Maggie Williams, Sidni Rath, Mattilyn Harrell, Marisa Harrell, and a great-great-granddaughter, Oakley Williams. She was the quiet, loving matriarch of a large and lively family, presiding sweetly and gently as the undisputed queen. She was fully adored by each of her children; the one thing we could always agree upon was that she was utterly and purely good. She made the best divinity in the world, delicious mashed potatoes, and the most decadent carrot bread ever tasted. Her voice could be heard singing and humming as she kept her home in grace and style, leaving her signature scent of Guerlain Shalimar in her wake. The epitome of class and manners, she was also witty and fun. All of her children and grandchildren thought that they were her very favorite; she just had that way about her. She was a champion and a solace to her entire family. If we needed her (and oh, we needed her), she was there to comfort and encourage; there was no dilemma she couldn't solve. She was also active in the First Christian Church throughout her life and knew Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. As hard as it is to let her go, her favorite Bible verse, Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God," will be our constant comfort. The things we've learned from her are countless, but they certainly include "never making a pig of ourselves in public," keeping our rooms clean so "the health department wouldn't come and condemn us," and finally, "oh my stars" we should always "tend to our own knittin'!" A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Smith & Kernke N. May Chapel. Burial will follow at Watonga IOOF Cemetery.And with that, she was "so pleased to have met you" and asks that you "bid her adieu" until we meet again.