Billie Jane Floyd

Billie Jane Kight Floyd, of Newburgh, Indiana, known affectionately to many as “Mimi,” passed away on Monday, May 28, 2018.   Billie Jane was born on August 23, 1926, in Warren, Arkansas, to William Henry and Mildred Alice Abshire Kight.   Following her mother’s death in 1942 Billie moved to Evansville and lived the majority of her life in southern Indiana.  She was a 1944 graduate of Reitz High School.   Billie married Goble William Floyd in 1946, and was the loving mother of four children, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Billie Jane was a proud daughter of the South, a committed progressive on all political and social issues, a keen follower of current events, and a lifelong Democrat.   She was an excellent cook, with many outstanding southern specialties in particular.   Following her retirement from Meldisco (the Kmart shoe department), Billie took up Duplicate Bridge and remained an active member of the Evansville Duplicate Bridge Club until falling ill last year.   Billie was an excellent player and achieved the ACBL Life Master ranking in 2000.   Duplicate Bridge was both a competitive intellectual challenge and a social opportunity for Billie, and she cherished her many good friends at the Evansville club.   Throughout her life, and especially in retirement, Billie was also a regular and proud attendee at countless ball games, swim meets, recitals, shows, and awards banquets for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.   Lastly, and certainly not least, she was a dedicated fan of the Castle High School Knights football team, faithfully attending virtually every home game and most away games over the past 50 years.

In addition to her parents and husband, Billie was predeceased by her brother Roger Alan Kight, sister Mildred Carolyn Kight Wynn, nieces Alison Abshire Kight and Lisa Sue Kight, and beloved aunt and uncle Hannah and Troy Powell.

Billie Jane is survived by her children Elizabeth Jane Cerullo, Dana Sue (John) Mattingly, Goble William (Jackie) Floyd, and Mark Wayne (Diane) Floyd, and brother Samuel Wesley (Cynthia) Kight.   Her grandchildren are Stephanie Jane Brown, Kristi L. (Brian) Treski, Ronald A. (Judy) Shekell, Jeremy W. (Nicole) Mattingly, Emily A. (John) Whyman, Sarah B. (James) Childs, Amanda G. (Roy) Burkins, and Evan G. (Katie) Floyd.   Her great-grandchildren are Hannah Jane Brown, Ben Brown, Maddie Brown, Olivia Treski, Cale Mattingly, Miles Burkins, Sophia Treski, Jack Brown, Hope Burkins, Molly Mattingly, Jake Mattingly, Lucy Whyman, and Maggie Whyman.   Billie is also survived by nieces and nephews Rebecca Wynn Smith, Richard Scott (Tracy) Wynn, Kristopher Alan (Cheryl) Kight, and Andrew Bryant Kight, and cousins Norma Ruth Donaldson (of Dermott, Arkansas) and Patricia (Donald) Stemaly.   Billie also greatly appreciated and valued her lifelong friendships with the surviving members of her husband’s extended family.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 1, 2018, at Titzer Family Funeral Homes, Simpson Chapel, 510 W. Jennings St., Newburgh, IN, (812) 853-8314, followed by burial at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Newburgh.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday and 10 a.m. to service time Friday at the funeral home.  Sympathy wishes to the family may be shared at www.titzerfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org/donate).