Billie Evelyn Hurst Shaw was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 9, 1937 and passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2017.
Beautiful, benevolent, compassionate, bright, kind, humble, and strong are a few simple words to describe a wonderful human being who shared her life impacting the few lives around her that became her world. She provided a most meaningful life experience for all her children and husband. Anyone Billie met soon experienced the infectious positive outlook on life that came so naturally for her. This quality inspired strength in those around her, gave her family love, support, security, refuge unconditionally and without record. Billie Shaw was the epitome of charismatic. The consummate mother and wife, she was an artist and she enjoyed music almost equally.
She was a military mom and supported her husband’s Air Force career tirelessly. Billie attended the McNay Art Institute in San Antonio and finished with an art degree from Memphis Art Academy in spite of the rigors of being a military housewife and mother of five. Billie graduated from Powell High School where she was on the Women’s Knoxville softball team in 1950, as a catcher and a lefty. That year the team went to Chattanooga, for a softball game. Although she was only 13, she made the women’s softball team and looked to be in her 20s. Regardless, the Chattanooga team disqualified her because of her age. Billie as usual, made lemonade out of lemons and went to the Warner Park Public pool that day.
Billie met Fredrick Alexander Shaw, Jr., an athlete and a handsome young man attending Baylor Military School and was working as a lifeguard that summer. Fred and Billie met on that day and the rest is history.
Billie is survived by one sibling, Herky Hurst, of Knoxville, five children, and 15 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by Fredrick Alexander Shaw, Jr DDS, of Chattanooga, and Edna Panero of Knoxville.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel, Hixson.
The funeral service will be on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 12 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.