Billie Susan Alvarez
Billie Susan Alvarez passed away on March 18, 2018 in Escondido, California. She was surrounded by her two children, John and Natalie Book, and her companion of 12 years, Larry Manley of Carlsbad, California. Although her death was unexpected, she had recently undergone heart surgery, with complications in subsequent weeks.
Sue was born in the City of Orange, California to William (Lowell) and Dorothy Jones, the fourth of their five children. After graduating from Costa Mesa High School, she married Stuart Book. For much of her adult life, Sue lived in Oregon, where she and Stuart raised their family. Later she lived in Bullhead City, Arizona before returning to southern California.
Sue loved her family and friends and was often the emotional center in any gathering. People described the way her warmth and sunny disposition would light up a room. Much of Sue’s time was spent in caring for others, often the terminally ill, including her second husband, David Joseph Alvarez, who passed in 1997.
She loved to garden, cook, travel and spend time with friends and relatives. In her later years, she was a devoted dog owner.
Sue is survived by her son, John Book of Elk Grove, California and his husband Glenn Johnson; daughter Natalie Book of Auburn, California; her brother and sister, Benjamin Jones and Donna Williams; companion Larry Manley; and two grandchildren, Tyler and Brian.
In addition to her husband, David, she was preceded in death by her parents and two of her sisters, Joyce Jones and Kay DeLong.
People who knew Sue were charmed by her compassion for others. She sought not to judge people, but to understand and love them. An example of her compassion can be found in her last wish, which was to donate her body to science, in hopes that it might help others.
