Brooklyn Billingsley's Obituary
Our beloved Brooklyn passed away on the evening of November 30, 2023, in Sugarhouse, Salt Lake City, Utah. She was 20 years old.
Brooklyn was born September 30, 2003 to Dodge and Adessa Billingsley in LDS Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah. As a child she asked deep questions and at the same time loved exploring, playing outdoors, and climbing trees. She loved the story of Swiss Family Robinson and often played she was a survivor on a deserted island.
She grew up and studied with the same group of kids from Spring Lane Elementary, to Bonneville Jr High, and finally, Cottonwood High School.
She excelled in her academics, even learning to speak Chinese, beginning in the first grade. She traveled to China with her family multiple times, the first time at the age 11, when she helped interpret for her father. On that trip she recognized right away that this was not the Mandarin language of which she was familiar and told the cab driver so. The cabby laughed and said “I speak Shanghainese.” Before long Brooklyn was negotiating with shop owners near The Bund to buy things for her sister and friends back home.
Throughout her school years she received many compliments from her teachers for her exceptional work and numerous achievements. She loved art from the time she was old enough to hold a crayon. She was so excited to win a grade school art competition and receive tickets to the Nutcracker. She also loved to travel, especially to the water. She loved the ocean and played mermaid or snorkeled constantly. When she was about to be baptized she asked that she be held under for one minute—because she knew she could hold her breath that long.
Brooklyn always made everyone feel valued and seen from school, work and church friends, to the children she babysat, all were important to her. The person she loved the most was her younger sister Audrey.
Brooklyn often raised questions her parents weren’t always prepared or knowledgeable enough to answer. Even through her questions and challenges she continued to share her light and love with others. We are grateful she will now receive the answers she so diligently sought.
Brooklyn is sorely missed by her loving parents and her younger sister Audrey Billingsley, her cat Oscar—and lots and lots of family and friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Brooklyn?
What’s a lesson you learned from Brooklyn?
Share a story where Brooklyn's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Brooklyn you’ll never forget.
How did Brooklyn make you smile?