Billie Jeanne Hoyt

Billie Jeanne Hoyt, 97, of Marion, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, following a brief battle with cancer. A Visitation will be held from 4 - 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. Per Billie’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Private Family Inurnment will take place at a later date at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.

Billie was born on June 14, 1928, in Cherokee, Iowa, the daughter of Glenn and Mary (Rowe) Barto. Later the family moved to Correctionville, where she attended school through 6th grade. Another move took the family to Iowa City in 1940, then Cedar Rapids in 1944. Billie graduated from Franklin High School in 1946, then attended Cedar Rapids Business College before taking a job at Cherry Burrell. She met the love of her life, Donald Joseph Hoyt, in his hometown of Oxford, Iowa, and held fond memories of his proposal at Danceland in Cedar Rapids. After their marriage in 1949, Billie worked at Collins Radio and Square D before opting to become a stay-at-home-mom who managed bookwork for her husband’s business, Don Hoyt Construction.

Surviving family members include: sons, Robert (Karen) Hoyt of Marion, and Dennis (Laurie) Hoyt of Caledonia, Michigan; daughter, Vicki (John) Casali of Cedar Rapids; son-in-law, Jeff Wilkin of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren, Casey (Leslie) Hoyt, Tyler (Jenny) Hoyt, Christie Hoyt (John Peplinski), Jennifer (David) Olson, Taylor (Katelyn) Wilkin, and Jenna (Mike) Lebler; and sixteen great-grandchildren, Henry, Hallie, and Heidi Hoyt, Winnie and Emmett Hoyt, Eli and Avery Wilkin, Ryan, Reid, and Blair Lebler, Winona Peplinski, and Havana, Alexandra, Annika, Christian, and Olivia Olson; two step-great-grandchildren, Cameron Olson and Ava Olson; sister, Margaret Pearlman; and three sisters-in-law, Margaret Hagan, Bernadine Hoyt, and Connie Barto.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Don; daughter, Debra Jeanne Wilkin; her parents; brother, Glen Barto; sister, Lynne Barto; and her in-laws, James and Doris Hoyt, William Hoyt, and David Hagan.

Billie loved her family above all and enjoyed traveling, reading, dancing, and cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Our family extends a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Oldorf Hospice House and West Ridge Care Center. The care you gave Billie was much appreciated.

Memorials in Billie’s memory may be directed to the Marion Public Library to benefit children’s programs.