Carolyn Olive Dornoff Bilyea

1929 - 2013

Carolyn Olive Dornoff Bilyea, 83, died peacefully at her home in Houston on Friday, June 28, 2013. Celebration of life: 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, in University Christian Church Chapel in Fort Worth. The Rev. Ellen Lewis will officiate. The family will receive friends afterwards in the church parlor. Memorials: The Children's Closet at University Christian Church or American Heart/Stroke Association. Carolyn Olive Dornoff Bilyea was born Dec. 10, 1929, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Edward and Etta Dornoff. She graduated from York High School in Elmhurst, Ill., attended William Woods College, where she was affiliated with Chi Omega sorority, and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan with a BS in psychology. She married Dr. David Logan Bilyea in 1951. After living and teaching school in Milwaukee, Wis., during her husband's internship, Mrs. Bilyea resided with her family in Louisiana, Mo., for 13 years followed by three years in Dayton, Ohio, where she worked in professional Girl Scouting, and four years in Lansing, Mich. In 1972, Mrs. Bilyea and her family made their home in Fort Worth, where she lived for 40 years until she joined her daughter in Houston. Mrs. Bilyea was actively involved in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a number of women's organizations, including religious, charitable and social groups. She took particular joy in her volunteer work at the University Christian Church Children's Closet. Survivors: Daughters, Kathryn Bilyea of Houston and Dr. Cynthia McKenney of Lubbock; son, Richard Bilyea of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Jason White, Krista and David McKenney, Daniel, Judith, Drew and Del Bilyea; great-grandchildren, Bryant Bilyea and Stanton White; and sister, Beverly Jellison of San Diego.