Billie Jo Andrew

Billie Jo Andrew was born January 22, 1934 in Belfry, Montana, to the parents of Jack and Winifred (Alf) Andrew during the Great Depression. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Bearcreek, Montana, a coal mining town where her mother became the depot agent for the Montana, Wyoming & Southern Railroad. Times were tough. Her father Jack took a job working in the northern Montana oil fields in Oilmont, later moving to Cutbank. Billie’s father subsequently took a job as brakeman on the Great Northern Railroad and the family moved to Columbia Falls, Montana in 1942 where life was an improvement. They built a home with a view of Columbia Mountain and the Flathead River valley.

Billie’s parents were talented, prolific artists, which gave Billie a positive creative environment to explore her artistic talents as a young girl. She loved fashion and would sketch numerous drawings of models in various styles. Scarlet O’Hara was one of her favorites to draw. In 1947, at the age of 13, Billie entered the weekly Tillie the Toiler Sunday Comic Strip contest and her clothes designs won. Her paper doll cut out designs were published. This comic strip was published around the world and the outcome was overwhelming. She received correspondence from all over the world, especially war-torn Europe where other little girls were admiring her illustrations. Billie ended up having many pen pals as a result. Some families asked for help with food and clothing and her mother, Winifred, would send care packages when they could. A few of these overseas families became lifelong friends.

Billie later moved to Spokane, Washington where she finished her last year of high school, graduating in 1952 as valedictorian from Rogers High School. She attended Holy Names College in Spokane 1952–53. In 1954 Billie went to study art at Mexico City College for six months with her college roommate Jewel Knuth, who later in years would become her sister-in-law. They took a bus from Spokane to Mexico City, taking seven days. Billie loved Mexico and its culture, and through her life loved speaking Spanish anytime she had an opportunity. Upon returning, she attended Eastern Washington College in Cheney, Washington, and graduated in 1956 with a BA in Art, with high honors.

After graduation she moved to Seattle to work for The Boeing Company and entered their Training Program for Draftsmen. Shortly thereafter she heard a radio advertisement calling for young single women to work for the US Army as civilians. She was interested in a new adventure so headed for New York City and boarded a ship for Europe. Billie started work at the Golden Wheel Service Club in Germany as program director at the Mannheim Heidelberg Post. Subsequently she moved to the Special Service Section at Giessen Post, West Germany, for two years. She loved living in Germany and having the opportunity to travel all over Europe.

One of her earlier jobs after returning from Germany in 1959 was working as an Industrial Design Illustrator for UNIVAC, Sperry Rand in St Paul, Minnesota. Billie started as a draftsman attached to the industrial design department. Soon she was doing all the department illustrations; helping build computer scale models; and assisting the graphics designer. A new job classification at UNIVAC was created for Billie - Industrial Design Illustrator. She was one of the first women in her field at that company.

Billie met her husband Barrett Williams in Columbia Falls, Montana, in 1960 while she was visiting family. Barrett was a field geologist for Pan American Oil out of Billings, Montana. They were introduced by Walt and Wilma Nelson, who owned the Cedar Lodge Motel. Barrett was staying at their Columbia Falls motel while there for work. They were married six months later in Billings. Shortly thereafter they moved to Denver, Colorado. They had a son Eric, born in 1962, and a daughter Lynn in 1964. They moved to Chicago in 1965 and divorced in 1969.

Billie and her children moved to Renton, Washington, in 1972, where her brother John E Andrew and parents were living. Billie began working at Milmanco Corporation as a graphics designer until 1986. In 1974 she purchased her first house and designed a remodel and expansion. Billie was very proud of her home of 49 years. She always commented on her home and being surrounded by all the beautiful artwork of hers and her parents.

In 1984 Billie lost her daughter, Lynn Williams Estrada, in a tragic horse racing accident at Exhibition Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was a tremendous loss for her. In 1986 Billie went to work at Boeing where she learned the latest computer technology on a Macintosh computer, using Microsoft Word, and PageMaker for layout. She became proficient with Photoshop and Illustrator. She retired from Boeing in 1999.

Billie was a prolific artist all her life. She loved painting, sketching and using various mediums. She routinely entered art shows, won awards, and belonged to the local arts organization, Renton Creative Arts. Billie was also a freelance artist doing tight pen-and-ink architectural illustrations for housing contractors.

Billie took great pride in organizing get-togethers for friends and loved ones. She would host various ethnic themed potlucks over a 40-year period. Billie also organized two large family reunions for the Alf family in 2001 at Asilomar, California and again in 2012 in Troutdale, Oregon. She loved road trips with her son Eric. Traveling to see family and old friends was always a highlight.

Over her last nine years, Billie would frequently visit Astoria, Oregon. She would travel with her son Eric to see his partner, Brett Estes. In Astoria, Billie loved to go out to eat and enjoy dinner parties where she made wonderful friends. Billie was admired for her humor and wit. She always asked Eric later in life “when will you take me back home to Astoria?”

Her son Eric was Billie’s caregiver for nearly nine years before she entered the Valley View Nursing Home in late 2023. Billie lived at Valley View for two years and three months. There, Billie celebrated her 92nd birthday this past January with family and friends. She peacefully passed away March 2, 2026, at Valley Medical Center in Renton, Washington. Her son Eric Williams, and his husband Brett Estes were at her side.

Survivors

Billie leaves her son Eric Barrett Williams and his husband Brett Estes of Astoria, Oregon; her son-in-law Jorge Estrada of Phoenix, Arizona; older Brother John E. Andrew and his wife Jewel of Renton, Washington; foster sister Patsi Ruder Morton in Kalispel, Montana; nieces and nephews, Kathi (Andrew) and Jim Nowak of Kent, Washington; Jack and Kathy (Guyll) Andrew and Jim and Judi (Juguilon) Andrew of Renton, Washington; Greg Olsen and his partner Shannon Carpenter of La Conner, Washington; Janis (Brown-Andrew) Benn of Camarillo, California; Cari (Williams) and Mark Jones of Raleigh, North Carolina; Lisa (Williams) and Doug Clark of Raleigh, North Carolina; Jeff and Gayle (Richards) Williams of Concord, North Carolina; Michelle Williams of Ilwaco, Washington. Cousins Shirley (Andrew) and John Collins of Billings, Montana; Dennis and Mary (Corrigeux) Andrew of Dixon, California; Marilyn (Andrew) and Pat Collins of Ranchester, Wyoming; Marie (Andrew) Scharfe of Billings, Montana; David and Pam (Thomas) Beyer of Albany, Oregon; Jonathan Beyer of Puyallup, Washington; Bobbie (Andrew) Huston of Vail, Arizona; Billy Jo Andrew of Bolivar, Missouri; Mark and Kristi Andrew of Vancouver, British Columbia; Susan (Andrew) Sekely of Kirkland, Washington; Bob and Barbara (Pratt) Alf of Omaha, Nebraska; Mimi (Alf ) Kirkwood of Santa Barbara, California; Joyce (Stehlik) and Ray Franks of Erie, Colorado; Mary Beth (Stehlik) Riddle of Boulder, Colorado; and Dick Stehlik of Boulder, Colorado. Beloved friends, Paul Dostert and Paul Murphy; Paul Clements and Russell Bates; Mary Scharf; Minnie Merrill; Patti Wall, Norma Hernandez; Dulcye Taylor and Maggie Shumaker; Marbella Rivera; and Madi Nolan.

She loved to Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha and will always be remembered for that!

Donations can be made in Memory of Billie Jo Andrew to the Auburn Valley Humane Society 4910 A Street SE, Auburn, WA 98092.

Private burial will be held at Hillcrest Burial Park in Kent, Washington. A celebration of life will take place at a later date.