Billy Carol Smiley

Billy Carol Smiley, 79, of Great Falls, passed away Thursday, July 12, 2018. Visitation will be Friday, July 27, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Billy Carol was born on June 5, 1939 in Bozeman, Montana to Billy Lee and Carolyn (Taylor) Eblen. She graduated from Belgrade High School and attended college at Montana State College. Her love of horses, lead her to a career as a featured entertainer/contortionist and rodeo trick rider, touring the USA. Finally she settled in Great Falls. Here, she opened Billy Carol Smiley’s School of Dance, (Smiley’s Gymnastics) and was a proud owner and operator for 58 years. She was known as an instructor, coach, mentor, and friend to all. If she was not in “the gym,” she could be found with her horses in her riding arena, Cap 5 Stables. She married Richard “Dick” Smiley on November 26, 1961. She was a member of USA Gymnastics, the American Quarter Horse Association, and a longtime member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association. She was also a 4-H leader and presiding officer at both the state and local level in many fraternal organizations to include, Order of the Eastern Star, Jobs Daughters, and Order of Amaranth. She held membership in Daughter of the Nile, Daughters of the American Revolution and Grotto. Billy Carol enjoyed gymnastics, horses, music, dance, and choreography. She was also a youth leader, a role model, and encouraged children to be “the best person, both inside and outside that they can be.” She had a zest for life and lived life fearlessly. She is survived by her husband, Dick of Great Falls; daughter Dickie Carol Smiley of Kennewick, WA; granddaughter Kamela Miriah Barrett; and grandson Seth Casey Barrett both of Kennewick, WA. Billy Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Carolyn and Billy Lee and brothers John Marvin and Leonard Lee Eblen.