Sandra Besanceney

Sandra Inez (Billingsley) Besanceney, born January 6th, 1944 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Harry and Mildred Billingsley, passed away November 14th, 2019.  Her husband, Jerome Besanceney and her sister, Gisele Billingsley, preceded her in death.

Sandra (Sandy) is survived by her two children, Claudia Marshall, 5 Children and 6 Grandchildren, and John McCoy, 1 Child.  She is also survived by her stepmother, Althee (Frederic) Billingsley, 92, and brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews. Cathy & Randy Bruner, 4 Children, 7 Grandchildren, 1 Great-grandchild; Hudson Dale & Sheila Billingsley 5 Children, 14 Grandchildren; Donald & Carleen Billingsley 3 Children, 6 Grandchildren; David Billingsley 2 Children,1 Grandchild; Patrick & Donna Billingsley 3 Children, 8 Grandchildren; Lequita & Charles (Chip) McCloud 3 Children, 4 Grandchildren; Elyse & Travis DeBenetto.

Sandy grew up in Texas and Louisiana and settled in the Houston, Texas area.  She worked in some interesting occupations, working at a beauty salon, her children’s school cafeteria, NASA, a nursing home, Hi-Lo Automotive warehouse, a casino, and a trailer park.  She even had training and learned to drive a tractor-trailer.  She worked at NASA during the moon landing and she would have proudly told you she manicured John Wayne’s fingernails.  She said, “I called him Mr. Wayne and he said, “Just call me John, honey.””

Sandy married her second husband, Jerome (Jerry) Besanceney, in July of 1979 and followed him wherever his work took him.  She lived in Dallas, Texas, Gautier, Mississippi, Mesa, Arizona, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Mabank, Texas, and Lancaster, Texas.  Subsequent to Jerry’s passing, she moved to Saint Croix with her son, John, and then to Maurepas, Louisiana, followed by Waxahachie, Texas to live with her daughter, Claudia, and finally, Ennis Care Center in Ennis, Texas.

Sandy loved adventure.  She enjoyed riding her horses while she had them and four-wheeling off the beaten path…into her 70’s.  Anyone who knew her would say her laughter was contagious and she was always wearing a smile. She loved playing Yahtzee and if you played, you knew you were going to lose!  She’s off to her next big adventure, with Jesus!  We love you and we will sorely miss you!