|
Loreen Ellersick |
|
May 28, 1923 ~ May 20, 2017 |
|
May 31, 2017 |
Momma, after 10 years without your sight, oh
happy day, you are able to see Pops, “Frankie
Doodle.” Mom was born May 28, 1923, to Merl and
Ruth Miley in Coeur d’Alene. Soon two little
sisters, Marilyn and Merlene (Mickey) were born.
Their parents owned a summer resort at Echo
Beach on lower Twin Lakes. As an infant, mom was
propped up in her high chair in the center of
the store, where her parents cared for her and
waited on the store's customers.
Mom loved the resort’s familiar faces, she
enjoyed work and was grateful for the
responsibility, working along side of her
parents.
Mom delighted in a star filled sky, her little
phonograph, a special paddle that her dad had
given her, and a canoe where she could be out on
the lake in the quiet of the night.
She often spoke of her favorite Christmas, she
had received new ice skates. The night air was
crisp, the snowflakes gently falling down were
the largest she had ever seen. She tied on her
skates and went out on the ice pushing snow in
front of her blades, skating through the night
with her mom.
She had steel boats to bail, oars and life
jackets to place in the boats. Fish bait to
gather, candy cases to fill, ice chunks from the
ice house to fill the pop coolers. Messages to
deliver, boat oil bottles to fill and customers
needed to be ferried across the lake to their
cabins.
Mom loved her childhood and felt it to be
magical, swimming, diving, bonfires, echoes,
canoeing and skating!
Her dad allowed her to drive out through the
woods while he hunted for deer on foot. Mom
would drive back around, her little feet barely
reaching the pedals, and pick him up.
School was important, graduating early from high
school. She loved playing basketball, and the
clarinet. She attended North Idaho Junior
College. On a blind date she was introduced to
Frank Ellersick, tall, lanky, with a beautiful
smile. They enjoyed walks in the rain, long
walks around Tubs Hill, swimming, ice skating
and meeting each others family.
Frank enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942 at
the start of World War II, piloting a B-17
bomber in England. Mom wrote him and waited for
his safe return, wearing a gold engagement band
that wore out until his return in December,
1945.
Starting school at the University of Idaho, they
married October 18,1947. At graduation, daughter
Vicki was born, followed by three sons; Steve,
John, Mike and their daughter Marji.
Many years were lived in Bonners Ferry. Dad
worked in the sawmill, mom served and loved her
friends, neighbors and church, pinning hair,
grocery shopping, reading at the Restorium, girl
scouts, and cub scouts.
Dad’s retirement from the mill in 1987 moved mom
and dad down to Twin Lakes from Bonners Ferry.
They built on to their Lilac Lodge cabin and so
enjoyed being together at the lake, late night
swims, paddling their “old town canoe,” watching
baseball and the Jazz.
Granny will always be remembered for reading to
the grand kids, teaching them to swim and dive,
listen to their echos around the bonfire,
silvermint Schwan bars, homemade grape juice,
toffee, green punch, french bread, raspberries,
chocolate rice krispy bars, and hot chocolate
chip cookies.
Mom, you and Dad left us with the lake legacy of
family and service. You are loved so very much
and we cannot wait to be with you and Dad again.
Final resting place, with Dad, at Riverview
Cemetery, Coeur d’Alene. Condolences may be sent
online to
www.flammfh.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
