Gwendlyn Joyce (Shiell) White

Gwendlyn Joyce (Shiell) White slipped quietly to rest with Jesus on Thursday, June 14, at Aces Elder Care in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Funeral services were held on Monday, June 18, 2007, at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Internment followed in the White Family Cemetery in Moyie Springs, Idaho

Gwen was born June 23, 1928 to Percie and Florence (Bacon) Shiell in Scobey, Mont. Gwen's younger years were spent on the plains of Montana. One time as a young school girl, she was coming home from school with her siblings and a blizzard came up. Gwen's brother Ron took the lead and brought the children safely home. Gwen and sister June's eyes were nearly frozen shut, because they were scared and had been crying, but they were all fine. The family lived in Montana for several years.

The Shiell family moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1940 where Gwen's father worked for the Davidsons. After moving to Kent's Gulch, the family moved once again to the Shiell Family Farm in Moyie Springs. The year was 1944 and two short years later Gwen graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1946.

Gwen met her future husband, Blaine E. White in Moyie Springs and they were married June 24, 1946. They made their home in Moyie Springs on the White Family Farm. Their four children, Robert E., Amy Jo, George B. and Gail E. where all born in Bonners Ferry and raised on the farm in Moyie Springs.

Gwen enjoyed life and spent a lot of time with her family. She loved to pick huckleberries and picnic with her family. One of Gwen's greatest joys was sewing. She was an excellent seamstress and would spend hours diligently sewing baby dolls and clothes for her grand-daughters. Her sewing machine rarely stopped as she created gifts of love for those around her. Another craft that Gwen loved was ceramics. She would go across the highway to Katie's ceramic shop and paint tediously. Gwen and Katie would laugh and drink coffee for hours as they crafted together.

In 1980 Gwen and Blaine moved to Alaska, the Last Frontier, where they encountered many life long friends. Due to health reasons, they came home to Moyie Springs where they continued to live until Blaine's death in 2000. Blaine and Gwen were a very social couple. They loved to "go to town" and visit Jim and Valdie, Grandma Josie and all their other friends and family. They also loved to play cribbage with George any time of day!

Gwen had a love for life and was always smiling and giggling. Her joy will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Gwen is survived by her children: Robert E. (Jeanette) White of Moyie Springs, Amy J. (Robert) Sbitney of the Yukon, Canada; Gail E. (Bruce) Reoch of Moyie Springs; 10 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, brothers, Gordon Shiell of Bonners Ferry; Marlo (Laura) Shiell of Lewiston, Idaho; numerous nieces and nephews and her loving family and caregivers at Ace Elder Care in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Gwen was proceeded in death by her loving husband Blaine E. White, Jr., son George White, granddaughter Clarinda M. White, grandson Dusty Rhoads, an infant brother Donald, toddler brother Lowell Dean Shiell, mother Florence Shiell, father Percy Shiell, brothers, Ronald Shiell, Norman Shiell, Gregory Shiell, and sister, June Hoover.

Any person wishing to honor Gwen with a memorial can do so by making a donation to Ace Elder Care 6646 Chippewa Drive, Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805