Lenora Coats, 98

Lenora Coats, 98, formerly of Bonners Ferry, passed away Monday, March 1, 2010, at Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint.

Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday. March 6, at LDS Church in Bonners Ferry. A potluck will follow.

Lenora was born in Cold Springs, Mo., on June 23, 1911, to William David and Clara Belle Cook Henson.

When Lenora was 93, she attended the University of Idaho where a new ruling allowed anyone over age 85 to attend collage without a high school diploma. It is called the “Lenora Rule;” she received a 4.0 grade-point average.

Lenora was an avid sewer; she made cloth dolls and doll clothes, stuffed toys, including many that went to poverty-stricken children all over the world.

She was a member of the Rebecca and Lapm lodges. Lenora loved people and gave “roses” to people. She loved to socialize and gave abundantly to charity, thus her request to have no flowers at her funeral because she cannot enjoy them.

Lenora requests memorials be made to Feed the Children.

Lenora is survived by children David Coats of Sandpoint, Kathryn Smith, Yvonne Hampton and Floyd Coats, both of Troy, Mont., and Donald Coats of Olathe, Kansas; daughter-in-law Lisa Coats of Moscow; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lenora was preceded her in death by two brothers, two sisters, son James, a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter.

Family and friends may sign Lenora’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Bonners Ferry Funeral Home handled arrangements.