Loraine Mae Royer, 79 1932-2012
Loraine M. Royer, a descendant of Oregon pioneers and a longtime resident of Coeur d’Alene, passed away peacefully at her home Aug. 28, 2012, at the age of 79 with her daughter at her side after a long and valiant battle with cancer.
She was born Sept. 2, 1932, in Pendleton, Ore., to Fred E. and Hazel Emrie Barnes. She attended school and lived in Pendleton until she married Thomas N. Royer on July 23, 1949, and moved to Pilot Rock, Ore.
During her years in Pilot Rock, she raised her family and was a member of a bridge group and worked at First National Bank of Oregon.
In 1970 she moved to Coeur d’Alene with Tom being transferred there with Louisiana Pacific. She enjoyed taking up the game of golf, which she became quite talented. She also explored her many artistic abilities, which flourished as she created beautiful paintings and hand-thrown pottery at her in-home studio. She was loved and appreciated for her knit and crochet clothes and blankets she lovingly made for friends and family, including baby blankets treasured by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Loraine’s talents also extended to residential home design, creating several outstanding custom homes. Family will also agree that with her cooking and decorating expertise she could truly make a house a home and was quite a hospitable and generous host who loved to entertain.
She especially loved working in her garden. She had a natural ability to grow beautiful flowers and a bountiful vegetable garden, creating savory dishes to share the harvest with friends and family. Loraine also had a zeal for crafting homemade wines in her home’s wine room where she would make, ferment and bottle her own wines.
She is survived by her children, Rhonda DeBok of Rockwall, Texas, Jeffrey Royer of Spokane and Rachel McGregor of Coeur d’Alene; and sisters, LaVelle Hoeft and Louise Mabry; grandchildren, Jennifer Syamala of Las Vegas, Nev., and Darcy Rocha of Heath, Texas; great-grandchildren, Ella Syamala, and Ava and Ian Rocha; and several nieces and nephews.
Loraine was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister LaVonne Thorne.
A family gathering and celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835 or www.honi.org.