Billie Loughran

Billie Cooper Loughran, born on March 29, 1943, in the serene town of Jay, NY, will be remembered for being generous with her love, her dedication to serving her community, and living her life on her terms. These are all characteristics that made her so loved by those that had the honor of having Billie in their life. On August 29, 2024, she passed away peacefully in her sleep at the CVPH Medical Center at the age of 81 years.

A graduate of the class of 1960 at Lake Placid High School, Billie found joy in the simple pleasures of life like sitting on her porch watching the cars go by or completely redecorating her home for every holiday and every season. By her side through all of this was the love of her life, her husband of almost 58 years, Eugene "Gene" Loughran. Billie and Gene met when the Loughran family moved from New York City and became next door neighbors to the Coopers on the Springfield Road in Wilmington. Their friendship grew and from that friendship bloomed a love everlasting. Uncle Jimmy Roberts encouraged this relationship by telling Billie, "You should marry Gene Loughran". And so they did on December 2, 1966 on the Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. Following Gene's honorable discharge from the United States Air Force they moved back to Wilmington and added Billie's cherished sons Bradford and Morse to the family. The light of her life shone brightly upon her grandchildren Grayson, Wyatt, Cole, and Noah.

Her tireless efforts as a home health aide at the Greenwood Street Apartments in Lake Placid, NY for North Country Home Services earned her numerous "Aid of the Year" awards. She cared for and loved her clients just as they were her own family. She was a cherished member of the Wilmington Church of the Nazarene, and she dedicated herself to various roles, including treasurer of the church board and Sunday School Teacher, and volunteer at the Wilmington Methodist Church's thrift shop. In the days before modern emergency services communications Billie took on the role of dispatcher by answering calls for service from her home and would jog across the street to the fire department where she would manually sound the alarm. Billie further assisted the Wilmington Fire Department by being a long time member of the Wilmington Fire Department Women's Auxiliary. Her philanthropic endeavors did not go unnoticed, as this past April she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 38th Annual Wilmington Community Dinner.

She was preceded in death by her parents William and C. June Cooper, and siblings Michelle and Jayne.

She is survived by her husband, Eugene Loughran; her children Bradford (Gloria) Loughran and Morse (Melissa Alban) Loughran; and her beloved grandchildren, Grayson Loughran, Wyatt Loughran, Cole Stefaniak, and Noah Harnden; as well as a host of friends, extended family, and what feels like the entire community of Wilmington. We would be remiss if we did not mention Billie's beloved cat, Princess.

A Funeral Service will be held at the Wilmington Church of the Nazarene on September 3, 2024, at 2:00 pm. Immediately following the service, interment will take place at Haselton Cemetery. A Reception to celebrate her life will be held at the Wilmington Fire Department on the Haselton Rd. following the interment. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department.

The family would like to thank the following: the Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department, the Willsboro Volunteer Fire Department, the medical staff of the CVPH Medical Center emergency department and R4 for their compassionate care of not only Billie but also her family and friends.

Billie gave of herself freely and never wanted anything in return. You always knew where you stood with Billie. Her love and compassion was immeasurable and if you wanted her opinion she would tell you, whether you liked it or not.

Services were entrusted to Heidrick-Zaumetzer Funeral Home, 3 College St., PO Box 127, Au Sable Forks, NY 12912.