Billie Jean Flemins
February 27, 1920 - March 21, 2017
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Billie Jean Flemins
February 27, 1920 - March 21, 2017
Obituary
Billie Jean Flemins, nee Hoffman, 89, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away on March 21, 2017 at Laguna Woods, California.
Billie Jean was born on February 27, 1928 in the west Texas town of Lamesa to Myrtle May Anderson and Robert Benjamin Hoffman. She had one sister, Letha Faye Towns and a brother, Robert Connely Hoffman.
Billie Jean grew up in Lamesa and attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where she met her husband, Harrold Milton Flemins, Sr. They were married on May 27, 1947 and her life’s adventures took a new turn.
Her husband Harrold had a successful career with the Brunswick Corporation and his promotions took the family from Lubbock to Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, California and Waco, Texas. After her husband’s passing, Billie Jean moved back to California and settled in Laguna Woods.
Billie Jean and Harrold had two children, Harrold M. Flemins, Jr. (“Butch” or “Hal”) and Harriett Melissa Flemins, both of who eventually settled in California near where their mother lived in Laguna Woods, California.
Billie Jean, affectionately known to her family as “Mumsie,” was an accomplished painter and was active in many of the social clubs at Laguna Woods (fka as “Leisure World). She loved art and served on the board of the Laguna Woods Art Association for many years.
She painted in both oil and watercolors and produced a body of work influenced by her early years in Texas. She had fond memories of driving the family car into town – at age 14 without a license – to collect dinner from the collective frozen food storage center in town.
One of her lasting memories to her children and grandchildren are the hand-painted Christmas tree ornaments she created for each family member every Christmas. Those ornaments will connect us with her every year when our Christmas trees are trimmed.
Billie Jean’s wry sense of humor and caring nature live on in her children, Melissa and Butch, and her grandchildren Kaitlin Marie Lanfre and Michael Andrew Lanfre.
She is survived by 2 children, 7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Services will be held at the O’Connor Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, California, 92653 on Friday, April 7, 2017 @ 11am, with a reception to follow.