Juanita Katherine

“Billye” Beatty

Juanita Katherine “Billye” Beatty, age 89, died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007, at Riverside Senior Living in Whitefish.

Billye was born in San Francisco, Calif. on Oct. 31, 1917, to Joseph and Catherine (Murray) Sharer. When she was 4, her family moved to Shelton, Wash. She received her education in Shelton, graduating in 1935, and subsequently attended business school in Seattle.

She met Howard Beatty in 1942 while he was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash. They were married on April 17, 1943. She worked in Los Angeles during World War II. After the war she and Howard moved to Great Falls where their oldest son, Pat, was born. In 1948 the family moved to Whitefish, where Kathy, Judy and Jay were born.

When all the children had started school she went to work outside the home as a bookkeeper in Whitefish and Kalispell. In 1964 she began working for DePratu Ford and was there until she retired in 1977.

After she retired, Billye was introduced to weaving and it became her passion.

She and Howard enjoyed traveling in their fifth-wheel trailer. While visiting relatives who were wintering in Yuma, Howard and Billye were taken by the warm weather. They became snowbirds and spent winters there when they both were retired. After Howard’s death in 1983, Billye continued her snowbird journeys until 1985 when she decided to move to Yuma permanently.

While in Yuma, she was a member of the Yuma Weavers and Spinners Guild and enjoyed demonstrating weaving skills at the Yuma Crossing Historic Park. She really enjoyed the warm (hot!!) weather and the beautiful landscapes of southern Arizona.

In 2000 she moved to Columbia Falls to be near her daughter, Kathy. She continued weaving, gracing her children’s, friends’ and relatives’ homes with her colorful rugs and placemats.

Billye was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Olive; brother, Al; and her husband Howard.

She is survived by her children, Patrick and Lillian Beatty of Albuquerque, NM; Kathleen and Carl Thomas of Columbia Falls; Judy and Ron Haraseth of South Daytona, Fla.; and Jay Beatty and Charles Ringer of San Francisco, Calif; her 5 grandchildren: Sue, Ben, Matt, Amparo and Noelle; 6 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Her family expresses its gratitude to the staff of Riverside Senior Living for the loving care Mom received while she lived there. They also are very appreciative of the Hospice community for their care and thoughtfulness.

A celebration of Billye’s life was held August 14 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Columbia Falls with the Rev. Canon Bradley Wirth officiating. .

Memorials in Billye’s name may be given to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop #100, Kalispell, MT 59901 or All Saints’ Episcopal Church, PO Box 1923, Whitefish, MT 59937.

Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish is in charge of the arrangements.