Elzie Bilyeu

Elzie Marie Bilyeu went home to be with the Lord October 21, 2020, on her mother and sister Sharon,s birthday at age 87.  She was born in Denver, Arkansas the daughter of the late Bonnie Robinette and Homer Braswell.  

    She passed away peacefully at the Brighten Ridge Nursing Home in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. She attended school at Blue Eye and the School Of The Ozarks, as well as in California where she graduated high school. She was a retired Dental Laboratory Technician having worked at some laboratories in Kansas City, then opening her own laboratory in Mound City, Kansas. She had broken the "Glass Ceiling" becoming the first female Dental Laboratory Technician in the Kansas City area and beyond.  Her son and nephew followed in her footsteps.

    She enjoyed travel, family, church activities and music. She was credited by Shoji Tabuchi for having been the lady who encouraged him early in his career to learn to play the "Orange Blossom Special", telling him he would go far if he did. Two weeks later he had learned it and the rest is history. She was of the "Baptist" faith and assisted her husband in his duties as deacon and Sunday school teacher.

    She is survived by her son Cliff Bilyeu and his wife Diane of Omaha, Arkansas, Grandson Stephen Bilyeu of Faribault, Minnesota, Granddaughter Wendy Fredrickson and her husband Brandon, three Great-Grandchildren Wyatt, Braya, and Claire Fredrickson all of Jackson, Minnesota. She is also survived by one sister, Estalee Phillips of Oak Grove, Arkansas, and two brothers, J.C. Braswell and his wife Lula of Oak Grove, Arkansas and Kenneth Robinette and his wife Carol of Branson. Others left to cherish her memories include many nieces and nephews.

    She was preceded in death by her husband: George Bilyeu, parents, sisters: Sharon Walker, Lula White, brothers: Chester Braswell and wife Jackie, Jerry Robinette, Elmer Braswell and wife Carol.

    Visitation will be at the "Smith Family Funeral Home", Green Forest, Arkansas from 5-7 PM, Friday, October 30th, 2020. A graveside service will be at 1:00 PM, Saturday, 31 October, 2020 at the Blue Eye Cemetery.

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