Billie Dale Groniger

MATTOON -- Billie Dale Groniger, 74, of Mattoon, IL, passed away at her home, August 28, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. Billie was born July 16, 1935 in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of Rev. Dr. A. Mont and Linore (Ball) Massey. She is survived by; her husband, Jerome Crowder Groniger of Mattoon, IL; one daughter Cindy Lu Brooks and her husband Harry of Humble, TX; two sons, Curt William Chezem of Richmond, TX and Clay Morgan Chezem, of Kingwood, TX; the father of her children , Charles William Chezem, of Kingwood, TX; one grandson, William Johnson Brooks, of Humble, TX; one sister, Sonya Sue Brown and her husband Donald of Springfield, MO; two aunts, two nieces, one nephew, one great niece, four great nephews, one great-great niece, eleven cousins, and a special person, Dan Cochran. Billie was pre-deceased by her parents Rev. Dr. A. Mont Massey and Linore Massey, one nephew Christopher Robin Brown; two uncles and five aunts. Billie thought it important to be remembered for what she was, not for what she belonged to. She was extremely proud of her lengthy Missouri heritage. She loved Missouri, her family, and the idea of family itself. Educated in Mattoon, IL, Billie attended Lowell Grade School and Mattoon High School before attending Indiana State University and Union Hospital School of Nursing in Terre Haute, IN. Nursing was a passion to her. She believed strongly in caring for others. Billie was highly respected in her nursing specialty, psychiatry. She was a passionate, intense, intuitive women with a strong belief system of which she was not hesitant to be vocal about when the occasion called for it. Billie believed in generosity, loyalty, respect, integrity, compassion, strength, humor and selflessness. These character traits, plus doing things "right" served her well in her profession. Billie worked many years at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, TX where she practiced general and psychiatric nursing. She directed the Crisis Clinic for Mental Health of Harris County (Houston, TX) serving the indigent in psychiatric crisis. Billie also over saw the alcohol/ drug abuse program at Houston International Hospital and the psychiatric hospital of the Texas Medical Center. Returning to Mattoon, IL with her husband Jerome, she was delighted in renewed school friendships, working and encouraging change for the community. She was very interested and verbal about positive changes for the community. She was also involved with the political party she believed in and the political process. Billie did not believe in being apathetic. If there was something to be done, she did it. If there was something to be said, she said it. She was high spirited. More importantly, she was highly spiritual, believing strongly in a loving God and felt by serving others, she was serving Him. Billie truly had a nobility of spirit. She was what she seemed to be. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home in Mattoon, IL, with Rev, David Massey-Brown of Ozark, MO and Rev. Robert Clark of Mattoon, IL officiating. The visitation will be held Tuesday, September 1, 2009 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home in Mattoon, IL. Interment will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery at Salem, MO at 3:00 p.m., Thursday September, 3, 2009. Memorials may be made to the Union Hospital Foundation of Terre Haute, IN. In care of Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Ave., Mattoon, IL 61938. To share a memory or light a virtual candle, please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com.