Billie Coble

Billie Sue Coble, 75, Independence, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2019, at Labette Health Clinic in Independence, Kansas.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 2PM, Monday, October 14, 2019, at the Stitch Shelter House, Riverside Park, in Independence. All are welcome.

Billie Sue was born August 6, 1944, to Robert and Bettye (Payton) Hempen of Evansville, Indiana.  She was later adopted by her mother’s second husband, G. E. Hedges, Jr.  Her family moved several times during her childhood, and after attending schools in Wichita, Kansas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Billie Sue attended high school in Independence, Kansas, graduating in 1962. In 1964, she married Joseph Miller of Independence. The couple lived in Kansas City, Kansas, and Merriam, Kansas, before settling in Coffeyville, Kansas. The marriage ended in 1981. In 1983 she married Derrel Coble of Independence.  The couple were together until her death.

Employment for Billie Sue included stints at the TG&Y retail store and Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization in Coffeyville. In 1982 she began working as a paralegal for the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office in Independence, holding several positions in the office over twenty years before finishing her career working for Social Rehabilitation Service in Independence, a division of the Kansas Department for Children and Families. She was active in civic causes, serving a term as president during her long membership in the Coffeyville-based Delta Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha leadership-service sorority, a social organization that raised funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita.  She also volunteered regularly for the March of Dimes, a non-profit that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. In later years, Billie Sue and Derrel designed many costumes and miniature floats for her grandchildren and other children for the annual Neewollah festivities in Independence.

Billie Sue is survived by her husband Derrel, her sons Charles Miller (and partner Nan Joo Kim) of Los Angeles, California; Jayson Miller (and wife Stephanie) of Derby, Kansas; stepdaughter Angela Heape (and husband Danny) of Elk City, Kansas; stepson Darren Coble (and wife Kristin), of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Hallacy, Easton, Maddox, Afton, Kyrie, Degen, Eric, and Joseph; maternal sister Sherri Gardner (and husband Butch) of Boonville, Indiana; maternal brothers Jack Hedges (and wife Bonnie) and Bryan Hedges (and wife Kelly) of Owensboro, Kentucky; and paternal brother Robert Hempen, II (and wife Lorna) of Las Vegas, Nevada; and paternal sister Brenda Hempen of Camp Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and paternal stepmother Rita Miller of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Webb & Rodrick Chapel and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.