Remembering Dolores Billings, visual artist

I first talked to Dolores Billings by phone early last fall. She said that she had been living in Kirkland, where she was a 20-year member of the Eastside Association of Fine Arts and had been very involved in volunteering in local theater.

She was an impassioned artist of watercolors and oils. Dolores had moved to Federal Way about a year ago to be nearer to her daughter, but she sorely missed her involvement in the Kirkland arts, as well as all her Eastside friends and fellow artists. She was very disappointed to discover that Federal Way didn’t offer the same rich arts environment as Kirkland has actively promoted for some time. She was determined to do what she could to become involved here, joining a Burien artists group, and volunteering for one of the Federal Way theater groups. She was delighted when she discovered that Federal Way had a newly formed visual artists group, which was why she had contacted me.

I met Dolores Billings in person on Sept. 11, 2008, when she came to her first South Sound Artists Association meeting. She was a slender woman in her seventies with a delightful smile and laugh. She was quiet during the first meeting, but by late fall didn’t hesitate to join into discussions with thoughtful comments, and had very efficiently taken over the duties of refreshment coordinator for the meetings.

She and I took an art outing to Tacoma to have lunch and visit the galleries a couple of months ago. I picked her up at her home, and she showed me all her artwork mounted on the walls, even in the bathroom, which may have been the best “gallery” of all. A few weeks later, she joined fellow artist Peg Altman and me for another Tacoma lunch and “gallery hopping” excursion, although Dolores didn’t feel well later in the afternoon. A third time, Peg, her husband, another creative friend, and Dolores and I went to see the Tacoma galleries, and again, Dolores didn’t feel very well.

Dolores was delighted to finally be more involved in the arts here, showing her work locally, and doing things with her new artist friends. She came to November’s South Sound Artists meeting with a smile on her face, but she was unsteady and didn’t feel well. On Christmas Day, Dolores passed away with pancreatic cancer. She had accepted that her life was coming to a close and was in hospice care for a short time. She’ll be missed. Her ready smile, talents, special strengths, kindness and encouragement will be remembered. She has artwork showing at the Arts Alive exhibit on the first floor of Federal Way City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S., until Jan. 6.

Sandy Petitt (South Sound Artists Association)

Federal Way

My friend Dolores Billings

My husband, Jay, and I were fortunate enough to spend time with Dolores Billings on Christmas Eve, apparently not long before she passed away.

I held her hand and, talked to her. We showed her pictures from our fabulous outing with Sandy, with her art at City Hall, and in her beautiful home. She was a fabulous artist and one of our most enthusiastic and talented members. Dolores was a true kindred spirit and I called her my friend. She called me the strong one.

We will miss her.

Peg Altman (South Sound Artists Association)

Federal Way