Brenda Lee Stackhouse Gard

Brenda Stackhouse Gard, age 52, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 25, 2011, at her daughter’s home in Marysville, Wash.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Free Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry at 1 p.m.,  Saturday, Oct. 15 with Pastor Brent Carlson officiating. Following the service, a celebration of Brenda’s life will be held in Moyie Springs with a potluck dinner at the Club.

Brenda was born to Jim and Mary Ellen Stackhouse on February 16, 1959 in Honolulu, Hawaii, where her Dad was stationed in the U.S. Navy.

She joined her siblings; brothers Tom and Mike and sister Lana. Soon after, her sister Rhonda was born in Honolulu, as well. The family moved to San Jose, Calif., while Jim continued his career in the Navy. Brother Rob soon joined the family. Upon the tragic death of Mary Ellen, Jim moved with the six children to Langley, Wash. on Whidbey Island, where he was stationed at Oak Harbor Naval Air Station.

 Jim later married Doris Anderson in Langley who, with daughters Sue and Amy, made the Stackhouses a family of 10. Sister Peggy was later born to Jim and Doris, on Whidbey Island.

Brenda enjoyed her younger days on Whidbey Island and lived there until the age of 13, when the family moved to Bonners Ferry. She recently reconnected with old friends from those childhood days on the island.

Brenda was in the class of 1977 at Bonners Ferry High School and soon after married Ted Billingsley of Moyie Springs. A beautiful daughter, Heather Marie Billingsley, was born of this marriage in June, 1979. She was the light of her mother’s life.

Brenda and Ted later divorced but always remained friends; grateful for the beautiful gift they gave each other, their daughter Heather. Heather married and later gave her mom and dad two more precious gifts, their grandchildren, Serena and Tyler.

Joining the Stackhouse family in 1984, Terry Little married Jim in Bonners Ferry, and brought with her three more children; Jason, Tiffany and Josh.

Brenda went to work for Kiewitt Pacific with Terry, where she met Flint Gard. Brenda and Flint married and their son Kyle Bradley Gard was born in June, 1991, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Brenda was overjoyed to have a son in her life. Brenda took interior design courses, honing her artistic and decorating talents while moving with Flint as his job demanded, including five years in Hawaii, going back to the place of her birth where her own son was born in the same hospital.

Following her divorce from Flint, Brenda went on to try her hand at several different things, from obtaining her Washington state bartending license, to her real estate licenses in both Nevada and Washington states. She loved to cocktail waitress and worked at Petosa’s Lounge in Everett where she enjoyed serving her nephew Derek Carpenter and his Navy shipmates who were stationed in Everett.

She became a dental hygienist and worked for Dr. Sutter in Seattle for several years. Brenda later went back to her love of cocktail waitressing and worked for a few years at the Tulalip Casino, M’Pulse Lounge in Marysville.

Brenda Lee was a high-spirited, lively girl who was always the life of the party. Her sense of humor was well-known and you always knew when Brenda was in the room. She loved things organized and in their place. She took pride in her appearance and was a beautiful person, both inside and out.

She enjoyed running the mile on her high school track team and was a member of the only Bonners Ferry women’s softball team to go to the state championship, playing with her sister Rhonda. Her artistic talents were many, from her funny drawings, to her cross-stitch masterpieces, home decorating to gardening. She left her mark in this world. Her children Heather and Kyle were her biggest treasures, alongside her beautiful grandchildren, Serena and Tyler Forney.

 Brenda lived her life with gusto until slowly her struggles and health problems seemed too much to conquer. She loved her family very much and had a special love for her 24 nieces and nephews and all their children.

Brenda was preceded in death by her mother Mary Ellen Stackhouse, her brother Rob Stackhouse and step-brother Josh Little.

Brenda will be missed by her many friends and family. We all know she is watching over us, getting things cleaned and organized for when we meet again.  Peace to you, my sister. Peace at last.