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Billie Shoemaker Obituary

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Billie Shoemaker

Durango, CO

October 4, 1922 - February 25, 2016

Billie Shoemaker Obituary

Billie Shoemaker passed away peacefully on 2/25/2016 in Durango, CO. Billie was born 10/4/22 to Edward & Blanche Olson Tollefson Tolmie in Ashton, ID. Billie had two siblings: Lorraine Tolmie Fink & Robert West. Billie spent her early years in South Eastern Idaho. She married Jack Shoemaker in Bellflower, CA on 10/4/1945. After Jack was discharged from the Navy in November 1945, they moved to Blackfoot, ID where Jack began farming with his father. Jack, Billie & their first two children (Jacque & Brent) moved to Logan, UT in September 1949 where Jack attended college & obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture. In May 1951 their third child (Kirk) was born. In July 1951, the family moved to Fort Hall, ID, where Jack began his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which subsequently took them to Klamath Falls, OR. In July 1954 the family moved back to Blackfoot, ID, where the fourth & fifth children (Denise and Paulette) were born. During this period Billie worked as a secretary for Kraft Foods. Jack's career with the BIA took the family to Poplar, MT & Tohatchi, NM. When Jack retired from the BIA in July 1973, the family moved to Pagosa Springs, CO, then on to Durango, CO in May 1975 where they remained. For most of her adult life, Billie enjoyed the domestic role as a wife and mother. She was a very unselfish and private person who was always concerned with the needs of others, rather than her own. She enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting and cooking. During the past two years Billie enjoyed living at Sunshine Gardens, an assisted living facility in Durango, CO. She enjoyed participating in the bingo games, exercise classes & other social events. Billie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack; her sister, Lorraine; and her youngest daughter, Paulette (Anthony) Rivera. Billie is survived by her four children; Jacque (Spud) Kniffin of Coeur d'Alene, ID; Brent (Yolanda) Shoemaker of Arlington, TX; Kirk Shoemaker of Ramah, NM; and Denise (Chris) Waller of Bayfield, CO.; brother, Robert West, of Tucson, AZ; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren & extended family members. There will be a private funeral service at a later date.

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