Joe came to Duncan AZ about 1898, he was about 17 years of age. The story goes that their barn burned down and he was afraid he would be blamed so he came to his older brother Benjamin Franklin Billingsley in Duncan, AZ. He eventually moved to Clifton and operated the Billingsley Mercantile. The red brick building still stands and the "BILLINGSLEY" letters in white can still be detected on the building. He married Agnes in 1903 and became a father 10 times while in Clifton. Eventually, the family moved to Phoenix in 1926. In the 1930's he owned the Matyag Agency on East Van Buren St. He operated appliance sales & repair store (washers, etc.) He was employed by the Arizona Corporation Commission in the 1940's and moved to Globe, AZ in 1943 and was employed at the State Agriculture Inspection Station. He retired April 9, 1952. He frequently took one of his grandchildren to work with him and gave his official cap to the child to wear "on duty!" Agnes passed in 1954 and Joe continued to "talk" to her as he wandered around his lonely house in Globe. Joe loved to play checkers at the Old Dominion Hotel in downtown Globe and spent many hours there with his friend Mr. Duncan. (FAG Memorial #167325148) Joe loved playing checkers, Chinese checkers and many other board games with his grandchildren. He loved to go to the horse races at the Arizona State Fairgrounds during the 1950 & 1960's before Turf Paradise was built. Joe also enjoyed the boxing matches at "Madison Square Garden" in Phoenix. In fact his daughter, Virginia would sneak out of the house after Joe left, and meet him at the fights where they would "root" together!

After his auto "accident" in his home garage & forgetfulness to turn off the gas stove, Joe's kids insisted that he move into the Arizona Pioneer Home, Prescott, AZ & later, Capri Nursing home in Phoenix, where he passed away at 101 years old. Joe's mind was still pretty good, but physically his body just got worn out. His eyes gave out first and he was blind during the last year or so of his life. Joe was able to celebrate his younger sister Lilly's 90th Birthday with her in San Diego, ca in 1974!

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