Billy Piland passed asway July 10, 2018, in Springfield, Mo., after an extended illness. She was born on August 29, 1923, in Salem, Arkansas, to William (“Willy”) and Grace Moore. Her father died while she was just a toddler, so her mother had to entrust Billy’s care to her grandparents while she moved away to work to support her. Eventually Billy was reunited with her mother and she graduated from Thayer High School in 1942. She married Robert Piland in 1942 and they had three children.
Billy attended Southwest Missouri State where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She also earned a master’s degree from Drury College. Billy began her teaching career in 1968 at Willard Elementary. The following year she began teaching in the Springfield school system. She was teaching at Portland School when she retired in 1984. Bob and Billy loved to travel and in their retirement years made many trips across Missouri and abroad where they especially loved to visit Spain and England.
Billy was one of the founding members of National Avenue Christian Church which she attended until her health failed. She loved the fellowship of her women’s circle group. She was one of the early residents of Lakewood Village. Billy had a green thumb and loved to work in her flower beds and garden. She also enjoyed playing cards, her bridge clubs and her many friends.
Billy was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her children, Sherry of Springfield; son Robert E. and wife Becky of Springfield; and daughter Penny Williams and husband Larry of Linn Creek, Mo.; grandchildren Layla Stanek and husband Chip, Logan Williams and wife Jamie, and Lindsey Gathright and husband Justin; great-grandsons Quentin and Elliot Stanek; and great-grandsons Drew and Calvin Gathright; niece Evelyn Fisher; nephew Richard N. Piland, and several cherished cousins.
Billy will be buried in Thayer, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, to The Arbors at Ravenwood where she received such loving and compassionate care during the final years of her life, or to Phoenix Hospice which provided comfort to Billy and her heartbroken family.

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