Mary Louise Billy

Mary Louise Billy, 79, of El Reno, Oklahoma, passed away on November 4, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was born on December 19, 1946, in Clinton, Oklahoma, to Willis Lee Billy and Martha Elizabeth Stoneroad . A proud Cheyenne and Choctaw woman, Mary carried her heritage with pride and held a deep appreciation for her family, traditions, and the connections that brought generations together. Her life reflected the strength, love, and resilience that she shared with those around her.

Mary believed in the importance of education and earned her GED before beginning her career with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Head Start program as a bus driver. Her passion for working with children led her to further her education at vo-tech, where she earned her degree in Early Childhood Development. She continued serving the children and families of the Cheyenne and Arapaho communities before dedicating her later working years to the Emergency Youth Center, where she remained until her retirement in 2004.

Mary found happiness in the simple things and, most importantly, in the time she spent with her family. She loved heavy metal and oldies music, attending powwows, camping, and swimming. She cherished opportunities to gather with family, enjoy the outdoors, and make memories together. When her children were growing up, she made sure they understood the value of hard work.

A woman with a creative spirit and talented hands, Mary found great joy in sewing. She enjoyed making clothes, sewing outfits for Barbie and Cabbage Patch dolls, and collecting sewing patterns. She especially loved anything bearing the Singer sewing machine name. Sewing was one of her special passions, and the things she created will remain treasured reminders of her.

Mary also enjoyed traveling to the Miami, Oklahoma, area with her companion, Roger White, to attend the Seneca-Cayuga Tribal Ceremonies. She treasured these gatherings and the opportunity to share the fellowship and traditions of tribal celebrations.

Above all, Mary cherished her family. The time spent together, the stories shared, the laughter, and the memories made will forever remain part of the legacy she leaves behind. As a proud Cheyenne woman, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mary's love and strength will continue through the generations of family who carry her memory forward.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willis Lee Billy and Martha Elizabeth Stoneroad; and one son, Jerry Wayne Hill Jr.

Those left to cherish her memory include her companion, Roger White; son, Roland White of El Reno, Oklahoma; daughters, Rachel White and her companion, Lewis Carter, of El Reno, Oklahoma, and Lisa Thunderbull of Clinton, Oklahoma; one sister, Sophia Tiger of El Reno, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren, April, Ali, Lisa, Lena, Darian, Mickey Jr., Renee, Sate, Adakai, Ryleigh, and Alford; and four great-grandchildren, Becca, Ryan, Jacob, and Nicole.

Mary's journey through life touched many hearts. She will be remembered for her pride in her Cheyenne and Choctaw heritage, her love of family, her hardworking spirit, and the many traditions and memories she leaves behind. Though she has taken her place among those who have gone before her, her love, stories, and legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of her family for generations to come.