Billie Stewart Jay, 90

Billie Stewart Jay “left her earthly body and went to be with her Savior” on April 28, 2011.

Billie was born as a blizzard raged in Fabens, Texas, on Christmas Day, 1920. She moved with her family to Douglas, Ariz., where she met and married George Jay Jr. in 1942. George, an elementary school principal, died in 1967.

Billie was a champion golfer and bowler and loved to organize social events for her community. After George's death, she left her job as an executive secretary for Western Exploration, a subsidiary of Phelps Dodge Corp., and relocated to Grover City, Calif., where she soon became the director of the Grover City Chamber of Commerce. Several years later, her Lutheran pastor was called to a church at Livermore, Calif., and he and his wife asked her to relocate to become his secretary.

Upon retirement, Billie moved to Kalispell to be close to her son and his family.

Billie is survived by her son, Tom, and his wife, Hazel, of Bigfork; granddaughters, Ginger of Hillsboro, Ore., Tamara and Rob Ward of Many Lakes, and Kelly and Cory Boswell of Bozeman; great-granddaughter, Haile Ward; and great-grandsons, Logan Ward, and Carson and Brady Boswell; as well as a brother, Jack, of Vacaville, Calif.

A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. on May 21 at her beloved Kalispell Foursquare Church, 2794 U.S. Highway 93 N.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Immanuel Lutheran Home, 185 Crestline, Kalispell, MT 59901.