Earnest Derald Billings, 87, of Chico, CA, passed away on February 18, 2023, after a long battle with cancer and kidney failure and Alzheimer’s.

Derald was born on August 23, 1935, to Albert Frederick Billings and Cora Tenney in Thatcher, AZ. Derald attended Mesa High School where he was active in various sports programs and became the state tennis champion. He graduated in 1953 and earned a full-ride scholarship to Arizona State University, but he turned it down in favor of moving to Oregon to help with his father’s business. His parents never knew about the opportunity he selflessly declined in order to help the family.

At 19 years old, Derald served an honorable two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Western States Mission. In 1958, Derald dedicated two additional years of his life in service to the United States army stationed in Panama.

On April 7, 1959, Derald was sealed for time and all eternity to his sweetheart, Kay Deane Johnson, in the Salt Lake Temple. They went on to have four daughters.

In the early years of his marriage, Derald obtained a business degree from Butte College.  Among Derald’s numerous jobs, he worked as an importer/export salesman at the Continental Nut Company. But perhaps his greatest accomplishment was his lifelong volunteer service to the denomination of his devoted faith.

Derald was an avid sports fan, both as a player and spectator.  He played baseball in his early years, and Softball in his later years.  His family and others knew him as the best Third Baseman there was! He particularly enjoyed watching Brigham Young University sports games.  His son-in-law and friends will miss sharing this with him.  

He was often known for having a pocket full of chocolate cherries or Red Hots that he (sometimes) shared with his daughters.  During church meetings, his four daughters would hear him jingle the red hots in his white dress shirt pocket, and four hands would eagerly stretch out across mom to get to dad.  He loved teasing and sharing with his daughters.

 Throughout his life, Derald was a cheerful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Derald is preceded in death by his parents and siblings A. Lavell Billings, C. Sue Vogel, Marsha G. (Richard) Evans, and Fredric R. Billings. He is survived by his wife Kay D.; his daughters, G. December (Terence L.) Caswell, A. Darice (Michael A.) Taylor, R. DeVonne Billings, and C. Danelle Malchus; his siblings Terry M.(Carnan) Billings, Ronald J. (Ruth) Billings; his grandchildren, Alysha D. (Robert) Starnes, Anthony J. Taylor, and Kylie J., Kasey D., and Jessica J. Malchus; and his great-grandchildren, Christopher J. and Caitlyn Starnes, Zoey and Ashlyn Taylor,;  as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/earnest-billings/obituary/

Copy