“Louisa Naomi Kent Billings” Pt. 9
Mar 25, 2022
After their long journey from La Luz, New Mexico, the family, Louisa Naomi Billings and Rebecca, Young Hardy Stockman and the kids ascended into the Gila River Valley. This must have been in the spring of 1901, or maybe a little later.
Nothing I have says that there was an established road along the river at that time, but as vital as the Gila River as always been to the area I’m sure there was. By road or not, they turned north and traveled ten or twelve miles to a nice flat meadow at approximately the location where the access road to the Current Bill Evans Lake turns from the River road.
There they spent the summer, put in and harvested a crop and when fall rolled around they made the trip back to La Luz.
Nothing I have indicates why, but for several years the family moved back and forth between the Gila River and La Luz and then, maybe because of age, they took up residence back on the Gila at a place identifiable on most regional maps, locally known as the “Billings Turnaround,” also known as the parking area at the “Billings Bird Sanctuary.” There a home was built and a basement was dug. It has been established that with a little searching the remains of the basement can still be found.
The rest of the story was told to me in such a good way that I’m sure I couldn’t improve on it so I’ll share it verbatim;
“Louisa was living there in the spring of 1905 when she became sick and at the age of 83 years, after a short illness, passed away. That year was a very wet spring. Over 25” of precipitation was recorded in Silver City. The Gila River was flooding on one side of their house and Ira Canyon on the other. They couldn’t take Louisa to Silver City to be buried so the men removed the interior doors of the house and built her a coffin. They dug a grave on a ridge over-looking the house and the river and buried her there. Many years later, Marvin Ellis, Louisa’s great-great grandson made a headstone from local limestone and it sits on Louisa’s grave today.”
I will remember Louisa as the Lady (I know her now) who traveled nearly across the continent, probably at least a thousand miles or more, and probably every mile was on foot. And, I will always regret that I was not there to hear her stories in person. But, fortunately for you and I, Louisa was a person who drew family together and garnered their respect so that over the passing years various family members have searched and researched through personal records, Bibles and even court records to keep her memory alive and that the Lady Buried high on hill over looking our shared magnificent valley below, so that all who dare to traverse the rolling rocks of the climb and win against the guarding sentinels of vicious Cat Claw bushes, can share the beautiful vista that Louisa has observed for all of these years.
While you are there, reflect on the life and legacy of Louisa’s life and the seeds she planted for generations to come. And be grateful for her family and their desire to share the spectacular life with you and me.
My very special thanks goes to Mr. Lee Stockman, Louisa’s Great Great Grandson, for feeding me the information to write and share this story with you.
“You only live once in life, but if you do it right, once is all you need.”
Mae West, 1893 – 1980
“And That’s My Opinion.”
