Winnie Louise Stanley, 94

Winnie Louise Stanley, loving wife, mother, and grandmother went to be in the presence of her heavenly father on Nov. 8, 2013.

Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 15 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. A meal and life celebration will be held at the home of Gordon and Marlene Stanley from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Graveside services will be at Grandview Cemetery at 2 p.m. and the family extends their invitation to join them.

She was born to Veranda Herman Wells and Rose Lee Duncan in Centerville, Ark., on April 22, 1919, into a large family of 10 other children.

She married Leon Smith and they had two children Jim and Barbara Smith. After the loss of her first husband and father, she moved to California, where she worked as a waitress and fieldworker.

In 1946 she married Alva Stanley in Reno, Nev. They made their home on the ranch in Bryson, Calif., where they raised their children Jim, Barbara, and Gordon. Winnie found delight in living on the ranch and being a homemaker.

She loved gardening, fishing, sewing and canning the bounty of her harvest. She recalled many precious memories of family gatherings around the Thanksgiving table.

At 57 she realized she needed God’s grace in her life and accepted his free gift of salvation. She served others through her local church.

She helped in many vacation bible schools, served through her gift of hospitality, and spent many hours praying for the needs of others.

For the past 20 years she has been a resident of Boundary County.

Living on her son Gordon’s ranch north of Bonners Ferry, she lived a rich life filled with children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Herman and Rose Lee Wells; husbands Leon Smith and Alva Stanley; a daughter, Barbara Ellis; granddaughter Debbie McCarty; and several siblings.

She is survived by two sons, Jim Smith of Gerber, Calif., and Gordon Stanley and wife ,Marlene, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; and one sister Margie Anderson of Portland, Ore.; along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Family request donations to be made to Senior Companions of North Idaho, an organization that deeply touched Winnie. Thanks Sue.

Mom and Grandma you will be sadly missed, but the family knows heaven’s splendor is in your sights.