Billie Lee French (80) 1943- 2023 and Armand Francis French (84) 1938- 2023.
Billie and Armand died only 14 hours apart, holding hands and loving each other as fiercely in death as they did in life. Billie and Armand met in the Navy. He was a Radioman officer and Billie walked into his office as his new secretary. He took one look at her and clearly stated he was going to marry her. He wore her down and she eventually married him on September 21st, 1964. They spent 59 glorious years together. Their love moved them from Bainbridge, Massachusetts to Southern California where he shipped out on the USS Shangri La and then the USS Endurance. Armand left the Navy on September 2nd, 1966, and was employed with the General Telephone Company. While in Anaheim, California, Billie and Armand had two girls, Teresa, and Trayce. They shortly were relocated to Everett, Washington where Tamara was born. Billie stayed home to raise her girls while they were little.
In 1978, Armand’s work brought him and his “girls” to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Billie and Armand spent 40 years in North Idaho. Armand continued to work for GTE until he retired in 1993. Billie took on several endeavors including working at Hayden Lake Elementary as a playground assistant, driving a school bus, a real estate agent, a receptionist for La Petite Salon, and, finally, retiring from NIC as the textbook manager.
Billie and Armand were active members at St. Pius X Catholic Church with Billie becoming a Eucharistic Minister, something she was very proud of. Billie and Armand were most proud of being grandparents and spending any moment they could with the seven granddaughters, their two grandsons, and one great grandson. Billie and Armand felt strongly that their grandchildren were the crowning jewel on their legacy crown.
In 2018, Billie and Armand moved to Meridian, Idaho to be closer to their youngest daughter and her family.
Family was most important to both of them. As a family, we would often visit, sitting around the dining room table for hours talking, looking at pictures, and playing card games. These memories will be what our family talks about for years to come when remembering them and what they built together.
Billie and Armand are survived by their daughters, Teresa (Joel) San Nichols, Trayce (Mark) Hemenway, and Tammi (Mike) Marks, 9 grandchildren: Jessica (Josh), Heather (Tobin), Leanne, Christian, Summer, Elyse, Zackary, Kyra, and Jordyn and 1 great grandson: Jayden; and numerous nieces and nephews.
God gave Billie and Armand the grace to live in this world for 80 and 84 years. Now may HE grant us the grace to accept their deaths as His Holy Will.
Billie and Armand will rest in peace together at St. Pius X Catholic Church’s columbarium in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.