Donald Walker, 99
Donald Everette Walker, 99, of Coeur d’Alene, passed away Nov. 16, 2012. Don was born to Alfred E. and Eva M. (Wiggins) Walker on Sept. 10, 1913, in Epping, N.D.; the youngest of six children.
Though his father, Fred, had been a barber previously in Minnesota, Don grew up on the family homestead. During his grade school years, Don was presented with certificates of Perfect Attendance having neither been absent nor tardy from school — quite an accomplishment for a farm kid. In his young years Don spent much of his time on horseback herding cattle, tending to the farm or just riding. That must be why he was so bow-legged as an adult.
As was customary, he also ran much of the farm equipment for and with his dad including helping with the last big cattle drive before the family left North Dakota. The family settled in Coeur d’Alene in 1939. For a time he and his brother, George, did some logging, chopping and selling wood to make a living. Later Don returned to farming as a hired hand on the Bill Larsen farm near Worley.
In 1947 or 1948 Don bought about 60 acres near Lofts/Rockford Bay and continued farming for himself. He married Mary Hicks in 1949 and set about building a home for his family. Mary had a little girl named Gloria, whom Don raised as his own. Life was harsh and included lots of hard work, but it also presented some hilarious times, like when the cow sprayed Dad with lots of smelly brown stuff. He was definitely at the wrong place at the right time!
Don moved his family to Coeur d’Alene for a couple of years and then to Dalton Gardens where he bought a really old home on five acres. He and Mary remolded it a little at a time as they could afford it. They raised cattle, chickens, rabbits, a horse for Gloria, a dog or two and a cat. Don worked off and on with wife Mary at the Armour Meat Plant in Spokane for about four years, but his career became Potlatch Forest Mills as an edger picker.
As a divorced man, Don again lived in Coeur d’Alene but the farming bug just never left him so in 1969, he bought a small house and acreage in Hayden. In 1971 he married Marvell Vandecar Devich. Together they raised a large garden, cattle and chickens. Don retired from the mill and decided to invest in Christmas trees. So he set about planting many trees each year so they would mature in different years. He did all the digging and planting, loading, lifting and soil moving by manual labor — no fancy diggers or tools. He became pretty well-known for his beautiful, symmetrical Christmas trees.
Always busy, Don also enjoyed making things. He carved wood figures with a chainsaw, made cabinets for their kitchen, and crafted many types of wind spinners and yard decorations from wood, plastic and aluminum. All this activity and he still found lots of time to go fishing, camping and traveling. He and Marvell traveled to Alaska, Canada, Texas and Utah plus numerous fishing trips to Montana, Washington and lakes throughout North Idaho.
He and Marvell sold their little farm in 1995 and moved to Coeur d’Alene to the Cedarwood Apartments. Don was at a loss for awhile as to what to do with himself. He became friends with the manager, Tony, and asked if he could help out around the grounds. After 10-plus years at their Cedarwood Apartment home, Don and Marvell moved a few blocks away to the Bestland Retirement Center.
He enjoyed dancing at the Ivalee, playing cards, growing things, hunting, camping and most of all f-i-s-h-i-n-g!! Don was a past member of the Eagles, Hayden Lake Ramblers Good Sam camping group, the Friends Church in Hayden and the Senior Center in Coeur d’Alene. He never served in the armed forces because of an enlarged heart. Ironically that heart kept going for 99 years, two months and six days and he was hardly ever ill. He never made a lot of money but was always willing to lend his hard-earned possessions to a neighbor or friend who needed something.
He was preceded in death by both parents; brothers, Jim and George; sisters, Jesse (Anderson), Geneva (Smith) and Jeanette (Mayott); wife Marvell; and several nephews and nieces. He is survived by daughter Gloria (Bill) Ziegler of Kennewick, Wash.; grandson Mark (Linda) Ziegler with great-grandson Eli of Stamford, Conn.; granddaughter Deby Ziegler with great-grandsons, Matthew and Devyn of Kennewick, Wash.; step-granddaughter Stephanie Worthy with great-grandson Levi Vandecar of Vancouver, Wash.; and numerous extended family members.
A heartfelt thank you to friends and all who have helped and prayed for Dad, my family and I during these last several months. Thank you to Dr. Chambers and nurse Marilyn; Hospice of North Idaho and to each and every staff member of Four Seasons Assisted Living for their efficiency, kindness and compassionate care. And also to our special friend Judy who loved Dad like her own and stood with us through all the storms of these last five years. Without her, my dear husband Bill, and our Lord, I could not have been the daughter I so wanted to be. I attest to this: With God All Things Are Possible!! I imagine that Dad is already fishing on that great unending lake angling for the big one. I will miss Dad looking up at me beaming and announcing to all, “That’s my daughter!”
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel. Please visit Don’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.