Elsie (Granny) Billings Tongate, 92, of Amarillo passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2010 in Sunray, TX. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, March 12, 2010 at Davis Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Brownwood, TX with Robert Barkley officiating. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early, TX under the direction of Davis Morris Funeral Home.

Elsie was born September 9, 1917 in Smiley, TX to Harmon and Hattie Billings. In October 1936, she married Elza Benjamin Tongate. She loved cooking for the Zephyr School Cafeteria for many years. Former students still talk about her hot rolls. She moved to Amarillo in 1993 and was a member of the Church of Christ.

Elsie loved spending time with family and friends, cooking for everyone and every event, and living on the farm. She enjoyed listening and telling stories and laughing about the events of her past.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Ben, two brothers, Roger and Joe Billings, a sister Ercil Rutledge, and a son-in-law Gage Robertson.

Survivors include: a daughter, Jan Robertson of Amarillo; three granddaughters, Tracy McFadden and husband Dennis of Carrollton, Toni Waldo and husband Glen of Sunray, and Tami Kraft and husband Jim of Killeen; six grandchildren, Benjamin Kraft, Gage Waldo, Kimberly Kraft, Trey Waldo, Jake Waldo, and Austin Kraft.

The family requests that memorials be made to the High Plains Children’s Home, 11461 S. Western, Amarillo, TX 79118.