Billie Jean Welch Easter

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Bratcher Funeral Home Chapel with Thomas Redwine, Rudy Dockray and Jim Farnsworth officiating. Visitation will be after the memorial service.

Billie was born in Tyler, Texas on August 1, 1932 to Cecil W. Welch and Katherine Stroud Welch. She graduated from Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma and received her master’s degree from East Texas State University. She studied art under Minnie Baker, Madlyn Stevens, Ramon Froman and the internationally known Frederic Taubes. Billie married Jerry Easter 61 years ago in 1952 and they have known each other since childhood. She began her teaching career in Bokchito, Oklahoma where she taught English before moving to Denison in 1966. She taught art at Denison High school from 1966-1969. She was an independent artist who exhibited and sold art in Denison, Sherman and Dallas. Jay Buckner, Sherman artist and gallery director gave Billie her first one woman art show at Le Gallery in Sherman during the 1970’s.

Billie loved her 1969 Corvette and belonged to the local Corvette Club. She and Jerry enjoyed traveling to over 55 different countries and especially enjoyed river cruises. Billie enjoyed bird watching and visiting art museums in London, St. Petersburg, Beijing, Vienna, Rome, New York and Paris.

Billie is survived by her husband Jerry who was with her every day while she was in skilled nursing; daughter, Rebecca Farnsworth and son-in-law James Farnsworth of Dallas; grandsons Zachary Farnsworth and Jackson Farnsworth of Dallas; sister Mona Knight of Bokchito Oklahoma; brother and sister-in-law Don and Paula Welch of Lake Buchanan Texas; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bob and Martha Lou Easter of Bokchito, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Jean Smith of Bokchito, Oklahoma; many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Personal condolences may be made at www.bratcherfuneralhome.com