Gloria June Cothern, 86

Gloria June Cothern, BSN of Dalton Gardens, born Aug. 14, 1925, in Decatur, Ill., to Emmet Irl and Elsie May McClanahan, went to her maker on Aug. 22, 2011.

Gloria served as an Air Force Wife and Mother for 22 years, crossing the Atlantic Ocean eight times, and the Pacific twice, several trips with three young girls in tow. She visited numerous foreign countries, lived in three of them and also lived in six states, making a home for her family at each station. She was a Girl Scout troop leader for 12 years.

After moving to Coeur d'Alene 43 years ago, she helped her husband build their Dalton home, became a ham radio operator for triathlon, regularly donated blood to the blood bank for several years and worked there for a time as a volunteer. She and Bill kept a large garden, and at the age of 56, Gloria returned to school, and received her Registered Nursing license at North Idaho College. She served for 15 years at Kootenai Memorial Hospital, and while there continued her studies to complete her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from Lewis and Clark State College.

Following her retirement from nursing, Gloria and Bill traveled extensively in three continents, including an 11,000-mile trip to the four corners of the U.S. on a motorcycle. Over the past six years, Gloria sent more than 70 boxes of donations to the soldiers in Iraq, where her daughter was working.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Billie R. Cothern; daughters Susan Cothern, Marilyn Annable and Patricia Hogan; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, at Christ the King Lutheran Church. No cards or flowers please.

If you wish to donate a remembrance, Gloria liked to Support Christ the King Benevolence Fund, Hospice of North Idaho and Open Arms.

Please visit Gloria's memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.