Wilma (Billie) Eulalie Heard was born to Grant and Henrietta Heard in Cabri in southern Saskatchewan. She had two older sisters (as well as an older brother who died at age 2), making her the youngest in the family. The three girls were raised on their parents’ farm and went to school at nearby Shackleton.
After graduating high school, Billie moved to Melfort in 1947 to work as a telephone operator for Saskatchewan Government Telephones. There, she met Ralph Holmes and they were married on September 20, 1949.
In 1953, they moved to Carrot River where Ralph and his brother, Glen, established Valley Plumbing & Heating, with Billie as the bookkeeper. In 1955, Lexie was born; and in 1956, Eddith followed. In 1957, Glen left, and Ralph and Billie moved their family and the business to Nipawin.
To further her education, Billie enrolled in a commercial course at the Nipawin High School for the 1960-61 school year. In the fall of 1961, Nola was born, and Billie now had three girls of her own.
Ralph and Billie were both very community-minded and were members of several local organizations. Billie was a Charter member of the Carrot River Young Women’s Club. She was in the Kinettes, the Order of Eastern Star and the Rebecca Lodge. She was a Brownie Guider and District Commissioner.
Billie was a life-long learner, constantly absorbing information from books, magazines, TV, travel and just the world around her. She loved creating beautiful crafts and taught herself numerous new such skills. Her hobbies and interests included: reading, knitting, crocheting, sewing, embroidery, reading, plastic canvas, counted cross-stitch, jigsaw puzzles, reading, family genealogy, road trips (especially to visit family or to research family history), regular correspondence with family and friends, and reading.
Billie was predeceased by: her parents; an infant brother, John; her husband of 59 years, Ralph Holmes; and her two sisters and brothers-in-law Ruth and Fulton Heron, and Glado and Mike Samuels.
Billie is survived by her three daughters: Lexie (David) Rogers, Eddith Holmes (Jim Lawter), and Nola Andris (George Schroepfer); six grandsons: Trevor (Cheryl) Rogers, Samuel Rogers, Michael Stickland, Gregory Stickland, Jody Andris and Wesley Andris; two former sons-in-law: Bruce Stickland and Larry Andris; and nieces and nephews: Robert (Marlis) Heron, Ron Heron, Glynda Newton, Janice (Bob) Anweiler, and Murray Heron.