Barbara Sue (Lily) Bilyeu, 70, Nixa, died Wednesday, April 2, 2003, in her home. Bilyeu was born April 5, 1932 in Springfield, the daughter of William Eugene and Matrie Marie (Pittman) Lilly. On May 5, 1953 she married Dorrell "Shep" M. Bilyeu and to this union three children were born. Bilyeu and her husband co-owned and successfully operated Cardin's Insurance Salvage store in Branson for 10 years. Bilyeu began her medical career at the age of 14, working for Springfield Baptist Hospital as an aide. She graduated from St. John's School of Nursing in 1952 with an RN diploma and assisted in opening the new St. John's Hospital that same year. Her 56-year nursing career included work at various hospitals in labor and delivery, surgery, mental health, geriatrics, pediatrics and industrial nursing at Springday/Dayco Corporation in Springfield and Fasco Corporation in Ozark. In 1982, she opened the Ozark Nursing and Care Center in Ozark as Director of Nursing and served in that capacity for five years. After retiring, Bilyeu kept her nursing license active which enabled her to care for her husband until his death in 2001. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Dorrell "Shep;" her parents, William and Matrie Lilly; her in-laws, Homer and Jewel Bilyeu; two brothers-in-law, Gene Bilyeu and Gerald Hodges; and one son-in-law, Norman Trotter. Bilyeu is survived by one son, Patrick G. Bilyeu and wife Brenda, Springfield; two daughters, Cheryl Lynn Trotter, Nixa, and Charlotte Morrison and husband Chris, Nixa; four granddaughters, Shelley Bush, Farmington, Angie Straubel and husband John, Kansas City, and Christin and Caitlyn Morrison, Nixa; two great-grandchildren, Nathan and Erin Straubel; two sisters, Jeannie Post and husband Roger, Davies, Calif., and Maryann Graves and husband Bobby, Poteau, Okla.; one brother, Jim Lilly, Poteau, Okla.; two sisters-in-law, Lovane Hodges, Sparta, and husband Don, Ozark; one brother-in-law, Ron Bilyeu and wife Eldena, Ozark; and several nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services were 1 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Adams Funeral Home in Nixa, with Chaplain Jimmy Young officiating. Burial followed in Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield.