Billie Madeleine Bush Edgerton

BILLIE MADELEINE BUSH EDGERTON Funeral services for Cortez resident Billie Madeleine Bush Edgerton will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 4, at Ertel Memorial Chapel with Reverend Marvin Graves officiating. Burial will follow at Cortez Cemetery. Billie Madeleine Edgerton, 83, died Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at her home near Cortez, Colo. Billie was born May 14, 1927, in Harlingen, Tex., to H.D. and Lillie Bush. She graduated from Raymondville High School in Raymondville, Tex in 1944, and from Baylor University in Waco, Tex. in 1947 with a BA in Spanish. In 1971, she completed her Master of Arts degree at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Tex and she received her Principal's Certificate from the University of Colorado. Billie married Charles B. Edgerton in Raymondville, TX on December 24, 1947. Billie was a Spanish teacher at Durango High School when she retired in 1992. She was Chairman of the Foreign Language Department there, but she also taught many other subjects at all grade levels since she had an all-level teaching certificate. She was named the Outstanding Foreign Language Teacher for the State of Colorado. She had also taught in Texas at Corpus Christi, Idalou, San Perlita, and Ozona before moving to Durango, Colo. in 1972. She taught school for 36 years. Raising four children, Billie was very active in PTA, 4H, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, in addition to teaching an Adult Sunday School class. She also helped her husband, Charlie, with their farming operation in Muleshoe, Tex. and San Perlita, Tex. She was a fantastic cook and was well known for her tamales. Many a home displays her beautifully cross-stitched pictures, pillows and towels. Billie was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Charles Edgerton; by her parents; and by her sister. Billie is survived by her two daughters and two sons, Janie Van Zandt and husband, Joe of Mobeetie, Tex., Skookie Bailey and husband, Dave of Bivins, Tex., Don Edgerton of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Bill Edgerton and wife, Susan of Cortez, Colo. She also leaves behind her nine grandchildren, Becky Reed of Justin, Tex., Jalyn Setser of Atlanta, Tex., Charlie Bailey and fiance, Tricia O'Neill both of Stillwater, Okla., Irby Bailey and wife, Rudi of Ponca City, Okla., Dennis Bailey and wife, Veronika of Lufkin, Tex., Doyle Edgerton of Cortez, Colo., Dorothy Edgerton and Quirt Edgerton of Portland, Ore., and Sam Edgerton of Phoenix, Ariz.; and one great-grandchild, Preston Setser of Atlanta, Tex. Memorial contributions may be made in Billie's name to First Southwest Bank to assist foreign language studies in the area.