November 9, 1921 – March 26, 2022

Helen Louise (Billie) Bayless Menz passed away peacefully at the age of 100 in her home in Citrus Heights. She was surrounded by her four daughters, Mary, Margie, Mindy and Marti who cared for her in her final years. Billie also leaves behind 9 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Billie was married to John ‘Brick’ Menz for 60 years. Born and raised in Oak Park, Sacramento, Billie graduated from McClatchy High School in 1940 and later from Sacramento Jr. City College where she met her husband John ‘Brick’ Menz.

Billie was active most of her youth with city dancing classes and theatre productions at the Oak Park Club House and later at Sacramento Jr. College where she was involved with choreography for the College Art Balls. Shortly after graduating from college, she married John ‘Brick’ Menz in 1942 whose university studies took them to Mexico City, and whose career with the United Nations later took them to live in Chile, the Caribbean, Southern Africa and Rome. After retirement they lived on their boat, the “Billie Too” for ten years (1985 – 1996) at Port Sonoma in Marin County and later at the Richmond Marina.

Soon after moving back to the Sacramento area in 1996, Billie became active with the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, and the Sacramento Ragtime Society. She resumed piano playing, joining several bands, including her quartet, “Billie’s Buddies,” from 2005 to 2009.

Billie will be missed by all those who knew and loved her. A sweet gentle soul, she was a longtime activist and advocate for peace and environmental issues, having marched against the Vietnam War in the ‘60’s as well as supporting the civil rights movements of that era and later. She loved music and enjoyed sharing her ragtime music with family and friends. She leaves behind an endearing legacy of compassion and inclusiveness with all those she touched.

Donations in Billie’s honor can be made to the ACLU (aclu.org, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento (uuss.org) or to The Union of Concerned Scientists (ucsusa.org).

At present her daughters are not planning on a memorial service, but your notes of condolence can be mailed to them at Billie’s mailing address, in the UUSS Directory.)