Billie Jo Read, 83, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2025, at Azura Memory Care.
She was born May 1, 1941, in Freeport, Illinois, to Harriet Mae Hawkins (Denton) and William Howard Hawkins. Billie Jo graduated from Plymouth High School in Wisconsin in 1958 and attended classes at UW-Stout before marrying Duane (Skip) Read in 1959 in Plymouth.
Billie Jo enjoyed raising and showing English springer spaniels and English cockers, genealogy, gardening and Civil War history. She was proud to volunteer at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King and the archives in Bonduel.
Billie Jo is survived by her children, David B. Read, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Dianne Read-Jackson and son-in-law, Jay Jackson, Altoona; and grandchildren, Ryan W. Jackson, Bloomington, Minnesota, and Rachel Read, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Billie is preceded in death by her husband, Duane (Skip) L. Read; and a daughter in infancy, Lianne.
Burial will take place at a later date at Woodlawn Cemetery in Plymouth. Tributes can be made in Billie’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
Billie Jo Read
