Matilda T. Billey

Farmington
Matilda T. Billey
Oct. 15, 1924 - Sept. 8, 2017
Matilda T. Billey, 92, of Farmington, passed away Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 in Farmington. She was born Oct. 15, 1924, in Burnham, N.M. the daughter of Ettcitty Tsosie and Ida Mae Tsosie. Born for Bitaani and Born to Todacheeni.
Matilda attended the Navajo Methodist Mission School from kindergarten to high school. She graduated from the "Mission" in 1947.
In the fall of 1947 she attended Oklahoma Baptist University, however, she had to return to New Mexico due to her father's illness and gained employment at the Navajo Methodist Mission School. She started out as a cook and interpreter, then, eventually became the high school boys' dormitory parent alongside her husband, Wilfred Billey, who was a teacher at the "Mission."
From 1967 to 1971, Matilda was employed by the Central Consolidated School district where she was a kindergarten educational assistant in Shiprock.
In 1971, she left CCSD and became employed by Farmington Municipal Schools as a kindergarten educational assistant at Apache Elementary School. In 1977, Matilda had an opportunity to move to the district's Office of Indian Education and became the district's home school liaison serving Native American students and parents. She remained in this position until her retirement in 1991.
Matilda and her husband, Wilfred, entered retirement together where they enjoyed farming and the raising of cattle. Matilda's hobbies were shopping, collecting recipes, needlepoint, sewing and watching old western movies. She looked forward to Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings so she could cheer on her beloved Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.
Matilda was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred E. Billey; parents, Etcitty Tsosie and Ida Mae Tsosie; sister, Irene B. Tsosie; and brother, Herbert R. Tsosie. She is survived by her sons, Willard (Issy) Billey of Kirtland, Chuck Billey of Farmington, and Warren Billey of Lower Fruitland; daughters, Barbara Billey of Aztec, Linda (Larry) Kerr of Waterflow, and Elsie Billey of Farmington; sister, Gladys Begay of Burnham, N.M., six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service for Matilda will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 at Ryder Memorial Methodist Chapel at Navajo Methodist Mission (adjacent to Navajo Prep), 1200 W. Apache St. in Farmington with Rev. Paul West officiating. Interment will be around 11:30 a.m. at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 6917 E. Main St. in Farmington. A reception will be from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center, 200 W. Arrington St. in Farmington.
Pallbearers are Chuck Billey, Charles Billey, Warren Billey, Larry Kerr, Ben Begay and Reed Tsosie.
In lieu of flowers, memorials/donations may be made to Bonnie Dallas Senior Citizens Center, 109 E. La Plata St. in Farmington or the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org or call 800-227-2345.
Matilda's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington, 505-325-8688. Those who wish to express their condolences may do so at serenityandcompany.com.