Billie Loverich

life-time island resident Billie Sutherland Loverich, 88, died April 20 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle.The last surviving founder of Town & County Market on Winslow Way, Bainbridge Island, Billie was born June 14, 1918, in Port Hadlock. She was the first child of William and Alvera Sutherland, who moved the family to Port Madison on Bainbridge when Billie was 3.Billie's father worked at the Port Madison Grocery Store and her grandfather was the area's Justice of the Peace, as well as the blacksmith. The family also included Billie's two brothers, Jack, who died in World War II; and Robert.Billie graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1936. She remained close to her classmates throughout her life, organizing many class reunions at her home within the last decade. Last year, when the class marked 70 years since graduation, Billie gathered their stories to compile and mail to all surviving class members.After high school, Billie worked as a legal secretary in downtown Seattle. On Feb. 9, 1948, she married fellow Bainbridge High School graduate Ed Loverich, and the couple made their home in Hawley, near the ferry terminal. They built a home at Point White in 1953.Shortly after their marriage, Ed joined childhood friend Mo Nakata to open Bainbridge Gardens on Miller Road. They opened Town & Country Market on Winslow Way in August 1957, after being approached by a group of island investors interested in the new supermarket business model that was growing more popular.Once Ed and Mo were joined by Mo's older brother, John, who owned a butcher shop in Winslow, the market was built.It was Billie who established the market's name, after spotting "Town and Country Tires" on a business trip in Spokane with Ed.Billie was a homemaker who loved her home on the beach, where she entertained family and friends, watched aircraft carriers move through Rich Passage, and showed her passion for flowers and plants.She and Ed enjoyed travel, and their favorite destinations included Hawaii, Alaska, the Bahamas and Palm Springs.She was an active member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church where she was a member of the Ladies' Altar Society and, during the 1970s, volunteered as the church's part-time secretary.She was a Brownie troop leader and a member of the Bainbridge Historical Society and Bloedel Reserve.She was accomplished at needlepoint, creating many works of marine life and flowers that adorned the walls of her home and were given as gifts to family and friends. She provided excellent care for her 16-year-old cat, Cricket, and, up until a week before she died, she did several crossword puzzles every day. Always informed about news and current affairs, she also read two newspapers every day.She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers and, in 1996, her husband, Ed.She is survived by her daughter, Christy Loverich of Bainbridge Island; son, Ron Thompson of Florida; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sister-in-law Elaine Loverich of Bainbridge Island; and numerous nieces and nephews.Memorials are suggested to the Bainbridge Historical Society, 215 Ericksen Ave. NE; or St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, 1310 Madison Ave. N; both Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.Visitation is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 27, at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, with recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m.Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at St. Cecilia's. A reception will follow at St. Cecilia's Conger Hall.Internment will be at Kane Cemetery.Arrangements by Cook Family Funeral Home.