Obituaries

Entered into rest on February 24, 2024 at the age of 93. Beloved mother to Terry Jacinto of Sacramento, Denise Jacinto of Fremont, Sandra Winslow (John) of VA, and Suzanne Jacinto of Huntington Beach. Treasured grandmother to Michael, Patricia (Richard), Alexis, Mandee, Jessica, Kyle, Nicole (Bryson), and Kelly. Proud great-grandmother to Tyler, Bailey, Cain, Shay, Jess, Benjamin, Delilah, Brianna, Alexa, Brandon, Aydan, and Dylen; great-great grandmother to Carter. Cherished sister-in-law to Ann Cline and Jim Fairchild. Predeceased by her beloved husband Jess Jacinto, son Mike Jacinto, and brothers Max, Clive, and Gary Cline.

Born February 18, 1931 in Portales, New Mexico, Billie was proudly raised in Lamesa, Texas as the eldest child of Ray and Willie (McGowan) Cline. Looking after her brothers Max, Clive, and Gary was one of her earliest and proudest accomplishments. She loved school and was an accomplished student graduating from Lamesa High School in 1949. She would later make good on her aspirations to complete college by earning an Associate’s Degree from Cañada College in her early 50s.

It was in her hometown of Lamesa, Texas she met her future husband, Jess. Then a professional baseball player with the Clovis Pioneers of the West Texas-New Mexico League, Jess came to Lamesa to play their local team, the Lobos. The two quickly became enamored of one another and married August 6, 1949 on second base of the baseball field just before the night’s game began. They celebrated nearly 60 years of marriage to one another before Jess’s passing in 2008.

Shortly after marrying, Billie would come to Jess’s hometown of Fremont and make it her own home for nearly 75 years. First settling in Alvarado and eventually making their home in Glenmoor, they raised their family and were both active and well-respected members of the Fremont community. In 1955, Billie was among the first group invited to form a Beta Sigma Phi chapter in Fremont after a representative from the sorority’s international office was organizing in the area and she remained a devoted member of the group for the remainder of her life. Her sorority sisters and their enduring friendships were a source of tremendous joy.

Billie enjoyed a long, successful career as a cosmetics saleswoman first while raising her five children and managing an Avon business and then translating that experience into over 25 years at Macy’s at Newpark Mall. Regular customers could expect to find her smiling face behind the counter at Estee Lauder and kept fully abreast of the latest gift with purchase possibilities. In addition to her appreciation of all things beauty, Billie was competitive to the core and loved the challenge of leading the sales pack.

Billie’s family was without a doubt her proudest achievement. She was a force in all she did in life—motherhood was no exception. Her five children were at the center of her life: from the early days of wrangling the group to the endless sports and activities of the teenage years and finally to the accomplishments of adulthood. She was equally proud of all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren alike. She leaves a legacy of strength, commitment, and support with all her loved ones and will be profoundly missed.

A Celebration of her Life will be held on Monday, March 4, 2024, 11am at Centerville Presbyterian Church, 4360 Central Avenue, Fremont, 94536 with a reception to follow.