Joseph Ray Billingsley

April 24, 1957-Sept 28, 2021

Joseph Ray Billingsley, 64, of Shannondale passed away at 2:43 a.m. Sept. 28, 2021, at Mercy Health in Toledo, Ohio.

He was born April 24, 1957, at Indianapolis, to Fred Billingsley and Katherine (Sparks) Billingsley Black. He companioned early on with Lisa Shaffer, who survives. He married Rachel Martin. She died in 2005. He then married Teresa Shelton Cary in 2010. They divorced, and she survives.

He was an Army veteran. In his early years he joined Century 21 Carnival Shows and traveled with his father, Fred. He worked for Pelican Trash Service for many years until it became Waste Management. He later retired from Waste Management and started a business, Joe’s Truck and Trailer Repair of Crawfordsville, with his wife, Rachel.

After Rachel’s passing, Joe settled briefly into retirement until buying again into the carnival shows. He loved putting smiles on the little faces as he would set up game trailers and bounce houses in southern Michigan and northern Ohio. Most recently he worked alongside Ron Abel with D&R Shows. Joe was described as one of the last “Original Old School Carnies.” He was loved by many. A special thank you goes to Rob Connelly for sharing Joe’s memory with Pounce-Matics Amusematics.

Joe is survived by Deuce, his Pitbull, and Tim, his Amazon Parrot. He loved fishing, hunting and anything outdoors. He loved his family.

He also is survived by his children, Christine Billingsley of Veedersburg, Robert Pierce of Crawfordsville, Leon (Jessica) Billingsley and Andrew Billingsley of Chicago; 13 grandchildren; sister Karen S. Stewart of Crawfordsville; uncle Richard Day of Kentucky; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father Claude E. Black; wife Rachel; daughter Galetea; sons, Freddie and Joey Slagle; sisters, Kim Billingsley, Sandy Busse and Diane Mills; and brother Mike Billingsley.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Oak Hill Cemetery South, with Pastor Steven Lee officiating. A graveside visitation will be at 2 p.m. Military rites will be conducted by Byron Cox Post #72 Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hunt & Son Funeral Home to assist with expenses.