Lillye Baston England's Obituary
ENGLAND, LILLYE DAKOTA, 94, passed away peacefully at home Saturday, Aug. 10, following a brief illness and at the end of a long and happy life. Born Dec. 20, 1918, in Edmonds, ND, to John Will and Allie Lee Zinn Baston. Preceded in death by her parents, sisters Opal and Hazel, first husband James Coleman, and her loving husband of 37 years, David Bryan England. Survived by her daughter Jonnie England of Dallas; daughter and son-in-law Glynn Ann and Michael Ruggeri and grandchildren Natalie and David Ruggeri of Grand Rapids, MI; sister Emma Lee Martin; “adopted daughter” Lois Lowery; nieces Davidean Seibold, Charlene Martin, Anne Caldwell, Pat Vaira and Molly Strup; nephews John Martin, Geary McCleery, Scott Carpenter, Paul England and Lance Wayman; sister-in-law Helen Coleman; extended family members; and a host of friends. Lil attended Jamestown (ND) College and the University of Minnesota. She grew up helping in her father’s Red Owl Grocery store and later became the only female executive in the company’s chain. She moved to Dallas in 1948 to be closer to her parents and sister Emma Lee. She married James Coleman and was expecting her first child, Jonnie Lee, when Jim was killed in a car accident on Memorial Day 1949. She met Bryan England on his birthday in March 1951, and they married on Dec. 15 of that year. Lil worked in sales at ladies clothing shops, at Trans Texas Airlines, and at Physicians & Surgeons Clinic until Glynn Ann was born. After Glynn Ann started school, Lil worked at The Fair department store and later returned to P&S Clinic. Shortly after Mountain View College opened, she became book buyer in the college store and worked there until she retired in 1982. From the mid-80s into the ’90s, Lil worked for Club Med at DFW Airport, greeting travelers leaving for vacation. It was a part-time job she loved and, with her outgoing personality, was well suited for. Lil and Bryan loved to travel and always took their daughters on family vacations. In their later years, they visited several Club Meds and especially loved Ixtapa, Mexico. Following Bryan’s death from heart disease on June 16, 1988, Lil enjoyed accompanying Jonnie when she traveled to conferences throughout the U.S. and especially looked forward to trips to Grand Rapids and spending time with her cherished grandchildren. One of her goals in life was to visit all 50 states, which she accomplished shortly after her 90th birthday when she traveled to Alaska with Jonnie and Glynn Ann. Lil loved reading books and the newspaper; tending to her plants; working crossword puzzles; following the weather on TV; being with Jonnie’s dogs and cats and helping with her rescue activities; and staying on top of current affairs and neighborhood happenings. She took great pride in keeping her home immaculate and her appearance neat. She cared about homeless animals, underprivileged children, paralyzed veterans, and anyone in need. She had a wonderful sense of humor, which she kept until the end. She never met a stranger and was well known for her curiosity and keen interest in everything around her. Above all, Lil loved her family. She was the proudest grandmother on earth, and nothing made her happier than spending time with David and Natalie. She took pride in Jonnie’s work with animals and enjoyed attending humane conferences and events with her. She bragged about Glynn Ann’s community and hospital board service as well as her culinary and entertaining skills, and she was so proud of Michael’s professional success. Lil was a beloved and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, cousin, friend and neighbor. A Christian, a proud American, generous and compassionate, frugal and thrifty, a gracious lady always ready to help wherever she could. Her family will never stop missing her but knows she’s now with the angels and so many loved ones, at peace and out of pain, with the knowledge that she was loved. In Lil’s memory, her family requests donations to the American Heart Association to help find treatment and cures for the disease that affected her and so many of those dear to her. Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM, Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at Restland Funeral Home. A celebration of her long and love-filled life will take place at 12:30 PM, Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at Restland Wildwood Chapel followed by burial in Restland Memorial Park, Ascension Garden . There will be a reception following the burial at Restland Funeral Home.
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