Billye Marie Grattis Tharp departed this life peacefully on August 12, 2011. During her final weeks she received loving and dedicated care from the staff of the Manor at Elfindale. The daughter of Orville Grattis and Irene Smalley Grattis, Billye was born on October 5, 1920 in Afton, Oklahoma and spent her childhood in Joplin, Missouri, where she graduated from Joplin Senior High School. She attended Drury College in Springfield, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors. Billye loved theater and appeared with the Drury Players in roles including Nora in Ibsen's, "A Doll's House." She attended the Radio Workshop in Milwaukee, and subsequently worked in radio, both in Joplin, where she had a children's storybook program, and in Springfield, as a regular cast member of the "Little Crossroads Store" on KWTO. She later worked at the General Accounting Office in St. Louis, where she also taught elementary school. Billye was the loving wife of Dr. Ray A. Tharp, who preceded her in death. Dr. and Mrs. Tharp were longtime members of Kings Way United Methodist Church, where both served on the Board of Directors and in many other capacities. In her later years, Billye enjoyed travel, music, the companionship of her West Highland Terrier, Kerry, and computer activities including Facebook. She is survived by her daughter Deborah Kerr and her husband, Robert Kerr, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; her son, Steven Tharp and his partner, Jim Umberger, of Buenos Aires, Argentina; grandchildren, Mark Kerr and Becky Kerr James; great-grandchildren, Travis Kerr, Solana Kerr, Brayden James, Camden Kerr, and Ava James. A memorial service will celebrate Billye's life on Wednesday, August 17, at 11:00 a.m. at King's Way United Methodist Church under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel.