Pearl Lucille (Love) Irwin, 94

Pearl Lucille (Love) Irwin passed away on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, in Coeur d'Alene at the age of 94.

Pearl was born Dec. 31, 1917, in Colfax, Wash., the daughter of James and Georgia (Alexander) Love. She grew up in Colfax and graduated from Colfax High School in 1936.

Pearl married John Ainsworth in Colfax in 1937 and later divorced. She married Lorne Irwin in 1952 in Bonners Ferry, living on a dairy farm in the Hayden Lake and Athol areas, later moving to Careywood. They owned and operated a dairy and also raised beef cattle. Lorne passed away in 1998.

Pearl started training horses in high school which later became a hobby, showing throughout the western states. She won many Northwest National and State Championships at such shows as the Portland International, U.S. National, Canadian National and five years showing at San Francisco's Cow Palace and many state fairs. She enjoyed a very full life with many friends.

Survivors include one daughter, LaDonna Martinez of Lakeside, Calif.; three grandchildren: Dean Paulsen of Vashon, Calif., Eugene Martinez Jr. of Lakeside, Calif., and Melinda Vingg of Hemet, Calif.; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ruth Jeffers of Newman Lake, Wash.

Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel, with funeral services to follow at 10 a.m.

Burial will be at the Colfax cemetery at a later date.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Pearl's online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign her guest book.