Mary Elizabeth Stuck

She was born as Mary Elizabeth Kutchera in the small town of Trempealeau, Wisconsin, in the upper Mississippi River Valley, and she treasures several lovely photographs taken from the balcony of her grandparents’ home on a hillside, looking across the river into Minnesota. Billie was an only child and a “tomboy” who spent a happy childhood among relatives and neighbors. Her family always had boats and spent many days on the water in the summers, but she also remembers the thrill of walking across the river when it froze in the winter.

Billie went to a local business college, and later worked as a proof reader for a printing company in Milwaukee. Later, when her parents were living in upper Hornell, N.Y., she met Don Stuck, and after dating for a couple of years, they decided to get married in 1943. Don was in the service, and they found out that in Wisconsin where Billie lived, they were required to wait a week to get a license - so they rode the train to Indianapolis to be married. They lived on bases in North Carolina and Louisiana- until Don was sent overseas to the Pacific.

After the war they lived in Atlanta for eight years while he was a sales engineer for Armco Steel Corp., and then moved to Nashville in the early ‘50s.

Don shared Billie’s love of boats so they always had one, and belonged for many years to the Commodore Yacht Club. They spent all of their free time there, and most of their friends were boaters. They also enjoyed their condo in Ft. Myers. Florida, which Billie sold after she lost Don.

Billie volunteered with several local organizations, including many years working at one of Richland Place’s favorite charities, This 'N That Thrift Shop in West Nashville. During the ‘60s, she discovered her special gift for painting, and studied with a noted local artist, Gus Baker for years. Later, she volunteered as an art teacher at the Cloverbottom Home. Over the years, Billie has created hundreds of paintings, mostly in oils, plus some pastels and collages. She has exhibited in local galleries, sold quite a few - and gave many away to friends and family. Actually, her lovely apartment has the aura of a gallery itself, with over fifty paintings tastefully arranged in every room.

She and Don enjoyed several trips to Europe, the Canadian Rockies and Alaska. In 1993, they sold their home on Kingsbury Drive and moved to Richland Place as soon as their apartment was completed. They were able to settle in and make new friends before Don died in 1994. Later, Billie and Jean Wright travelled a lot together. At one point, when they learned that Dr. Campbell Haney, a Richland Place friend, had planned a trip around the world, Billie and Jean decided to surprise him in Venice. They booked passage on the ship, flew to Venice and waited for him in the restaurant. Needless to say, he was surprised and delighted, arranged a cocktail party to introduce them, and they enjoyed a delightful week cruising the Atlantic Ocean as far as Bermuda, before flying home. .

Jean introduced Billie to Nashville jazz groups, and for over twenty years they have seldom missed the Sunday evening performances. During this time, Billie became good friends with Dr. Henry Brackin, a former resident who shared her love of dancing, which they did on the many cruises they shared. On one South American trip they were able to walk among the penguins in Antarctica!

Billie Stuck has certainly made the most of her life at Richland Place. She especially enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew, Larry and Patty Shay, who visit often from Oxford, MS. Even though numerous surgeries for skin cancers on her legs (due, no doubt to the many hours spent in the sun on boats over the years) have recently limited her mobility, Billie retains her cheerful personality and lively interest in her life and friends at Richland Place.