Rillia Estep

Bernice Estep went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 26, 2013 in Midland. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral services will be on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at Second Baptist Church in Midland at 10:00 am with Pastor Junior Erwin officiating. Rillia Bernice Bowles was born March 29, 1918 near Gilmore, now vanished, a community six miles east of Poteau, Leflore Co., Oklahoma to Finis Coleman and Rena Estell (Brooks) Bowles. She graduated from Gypsy high school, now vanished, located eight miles southeast of Depew, Creek Co., Oklahoma. While attending school at Gypsy she met Frank Thomas Estep whom she married at Bristow, Creek Co., Oklahoma on 18 September 1937. Since Frank worked for Skelly Oil Company until he retired, the family lived the Oklahoma towns of Oklahoma City, Duncan, Velma and Marlow. They spent some time in Kansas and the towns of Skellytown and Stinnett in Texas. They moved from Stinnett, TX to Marlow, OK. There Bernice owned a craft store. Frank passed away 27 June 1973 at Marlow, Stephens CO., Oklahoma and is buried in the Marlow Cemetery. In 1975 Bernice moved to Okmulgee, Oklahoma to be near her parents and her sisters Donna Mae and Patsy Ann. While living in Okmulgee, Bernice was very active in the Second Baptist Church, working in the nursery and as a member of the choral group The Silvertones. She worked briefly at a radio station, a few years at the local hospital and later in life kept children in her home. In 2004 she moved to Midland, TX to be near her son, Frank Coleman Estep and his family. She quickly found a new church home at the Second Baptist Church and was very faithful in attendance and support. Bernice loved most of all her Lord, her son Frank, his wife Mary and their children Chris and his wife Amanda and Amy and her husband Bobby Billington, their grandchildren Kenneth and Tyler Dowdy, Caiden Billington, Paityn Billington and Kaleigh Brown. She loved doing crafts, traveling, putting puzzles together, playing table games and eating out. She was such a joy to be around and will be tremendously missed. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Frank and his wife Mary, her brothers Floyd H., Thomas Cleo, and Teddy Arnold, her sisters Lois Estep, Peggy Joyce Adams and Geneva Reed. She is survived by her grandson Christopher Estep and his wife Amanda of Midland, TX and their daughter Kaleigh Brown, her granddaughter Amy and husband Bobby Billington and their sons Kenneth and Tyler Dowdy and Caiden Billington and Paityn Billington also of Midland; her sisters Patsy Davis and her husband Don and Donna Mae Wilson and her husband Kenneth all of Okmulgee, Oklahoma; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the building fund of Second Baptist Church, 3125 Travis Midland, TX 79701. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com,