Marie "Billie" Joan Meyer

Marie J. "Billie" Meyer, of Satellite Beach, Fl. passed away at William Child's Hospice House in Palm Bay on Friday, October 21, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Hilda Koitka, her brothers, Allan, Stanley, Martin, Bernard and Leslie and her sister, Patricia, all from Queensland, Australia. She was born in Innisfail, Queensland, Australia on January 6, 1923. She acquired the nickname "Billie" shortly after birth as she was the 6th child, following five brothers and her parents were considering a boy's name for their 7th child. She met her husband, Warren J. "Bud" Meyer, during World War II when he was attending an officer candidate school near Brisbane, Queensland. They were married on July 5, 1945. After World War II ended, Billie's husband remained in the military service as an Army officer and she became an Army wife and homemaker. They had one son, John R. Meyer, born in Havre de Grace, MD. on October 22, 1949. The family was stationed in a number of locations throughout the United States and in the early 1960's had a three year tour of duty in Heidelberg, Germany just as the "Berlin Wall" was being built. She did volunteer work wherever they were assigned. She was an avid reader and devoted her life to her family and making a home for them in eleven different locations over a span of 30 years. After her husband retired from the Army, the family moved to Satellite Beach, Florida in 1974 - which was her wish, as living near the ocean reminded her of her early years growing up next to the Great Barrier Reef in the vicinity of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. She enjoyed traveling with her husband on worldwide trips to include a number of visits to Australia. They were members of the protestant chapel at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. She was a long time volunteer at Our Club Health and Fitness Center. She is survived by her husband, Col. Warren J. "Bud" Meyer (of 72 years) Satellite Beach, Fl., her son, John R. Meyer and daughter-in-law, Wendy Gelbart, Bellevue, W; Brother, Frank Koitka, Queensland, Australia; Brother-in-law, James E. Meyer; Sister-in-law, Beverly Meyer of Minonk, Illinois and many nieces and nephews in both Australia and the United States. For over 30 years she had a close and loving relationship with Rowland and Selvi Thaver of Indialantic, FL. She considered Selvi as her "adopted daughter"; their son, Christopher, as her "adopted grandson". The family would like to thank Lenora Edwards Askew, Health First Private Duty for her "loving care" given to Billie over the past 15 months. Billie loved Lenora and "looked forward" to her visits. We would also like to thank all the doctors, nurses and aides at Holmes Regional medical Center, Melbourne, FL. and the Hospice House in Palm Bay, FL. for their loving care of Billie. May God richly bless each of you. No calling hours are scheduled. A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Upon the passing of her husband, "Bud" Meyer, their ashes will be buried together in one grave at Troyer Cemetery, 3 miles northeast of Carlock, Illinois 61725, where "Bud" started to school in 1929. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in memory of Billie Meyer be made to William Childs Hospice House, 381 Medplex Pkwy, Palm Bay FL. 32907. Beach Funeral Home - East, Indian Harbour Beach, FL is in charge of arrangements.