Esther C. Hoyt, 87

Esther C. Hoyt passed away Jan. 8, 2011. She was born Oct. 23, 1923, to Joe Patnaud and Elvina (Hayes) in Belcourt, N.D.

She moved to the Spokane area around 1945 marrying Ray Darby. Esther later married John Wing and they were later divorced. She married Arthur Hoyt in 1971 and they moved to the Rathdrum area were she was still living at the time of her passing.

Esther was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and wife. She enjoyed going to lunch, gardening, going to yard sales and watching the Golden Girls. Esther was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe from Belcourt.

She is survived by sons, Bill (Shirley) Darby of Spokane, Wash., Frank (Wilma) Darby Sr. of Rathdrum; daughters, Merle (Dave) of Spokane, Donna (Jim) Sayle of Fircrest, Wash., Valerie Wing of Spokane; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Esther was preceded in death by her first husband, Ray Darby in 1960; husband Arthur Hoyt in 2010 and a daughter Jeannette Payment.

Contributions can be made in honor of Esther to your charity of choice.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls. A reception will follow the service.

Please sign Esther's guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.