RIP My Friend.... When Music Left The Schools.... She Brought It Back....For All To Share...... Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry troupe was formed in 1990 and consists of a cast of very talented individuals, all of whom call Eastern Kentucky home. From their opening act to the inspirational and patriotic finale, the Kentucky Opry performers leave audiences wanting more. If you want to see the best musical variety performance this side of the Rocky Mountains, bring your family to enjoy Billie Jean Osborne’s KENTUCKY OPRY at the Mountain Arts Center. Visitation 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday at Hall Funeral Home & 1 p.m. unitl 9 p.m. Monday Funeral 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg KY Interment Davidson Memorial Gardens, Ivel,Ky. Billie Jean Osborne, 82, of Betsy Layne, founder of the Mountain Arts Center and Kentucky Opry, widow of Dean Diz Osborne, passed away Friday, May 30, 2014 in Mountain Manor Paintsville. Mrs. Osborne was born on January 4, 1932 in Pikeville, KY to the late Woodrow and Eliza Taylor Blackburn. A Retired school teacher brought her dream to life in Prestonsburg and in doing so, she created a facility that has fostered music education in the mountains for nearly two decades. Billie Jean Blackburn Osborne, also known as Miss Billie, taught music and directed award-winning bands for 30 years at Wheelwright, Wayland and Betsy Layne in Floyd County and through that effort, found that the region needed a place to showcase its musical talent. After she retired in 1985, she founded the Billie Jean Osbornes Kentucky Opry and the Ky. Opry Jr. Pros. and started lobbying legislators to build a $7 million facility to promote music education. To accomplish that goal she worked to gain funding for the construction of the Mountain Arts Center. The facility was completed in 1996 to become the home of the Billie Jean Osborne Ky. Opry and Jr. Pros., a center that provides music education to students throughout the region and a venue for concerts by regional and national musicians and bands. The MAC was the founding stage for several musical stars, including Rebecca Lynn Howard and Nick Jamerson and Kris Bentley, who grew up attending concerts and watching the Opry before creating their own up-and-coming band, Sundy Best. Osborne has received numerous awards and accolades for her service, including the Pikeville College Outstanding Alumna Award, Eastern Kentucky Universitys Hall of Distinguish Alumni honor and the Heroes, Saints and Legends Award from the Wesley Village Senior Living Community, Wilmore. She was inducted into the University of Pikeville Educators Hall of Fame in 2010. U.S. Congressman Harold Hal Rogers honored Osborne during a 2008 address in Congress, commending her for her passionate effort to improve the lives of eastern Kentucky children by promoting music education. The Kentucky Arts Council presented her with the Community Arts Award in the Governors Awards in the Arts program. Osborne, the youngest of five children, credits her success in the music to her mother, whom she describes as tough as a pine knot for always insisting she practice piano for as long as it was necessary to get it right. Survivors include five nephews: Mickey Blackburn, Jeff Blackburn, Woody Blackburn, Mike Blackburn, Steve Newberry, three nieces: Glenda Larson, Cheryl Meade, Kay Hall and a host of other great nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Clyde Blackburn, Glenn Blackburn and one sister: Mae Newberry. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. in the Mountain Arts Center with Randy Blackburn and Kaminske Robinson officiating. Burial will follow in Davidson Memorial Gardens at Ivel, KY. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM Sunday and 1:00 PM Monday in the Hall Funeral Home Chapel , Martin, KY. The body will lie in state from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM Tuesday in the Mountain Arts Center.
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 01:57:59 +0000
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