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Emily 'Pinky' Gindraux, 91

| August 10, 2014 9:00 PM

October 25, 1922 - July 18, 2014

'It's Been a Good Ride'

"All good things must come to an end; it's been a good ride." "Tell Aino not to take so much salt." "The lemon-lime is good, but it has no WHISKEY!" These are a few things Pinky said during her last few days with us. Anyone who knew her would recognize in these comments her trademark pragmatism, courage, decisiveness, loving spirit, playfulness and commanding presence. Emily "Pinky" Gindraux wasn't nicknamed "The Boss" and "The Queen" for nothing! Pinky passed away peacefully at Hospice House in Coeur d'Alene on July 18, 2014.

This fascinating and complex woman came from a world equally captivating. Born Oct. 25, 1922, in Tientsin, China, to American mining engineer Thomas Miller and his wife, Lucile, young Emily lived a life both privileged and lonely. Lacking the warm embrace one would expect from parents and grandparents, Emily bonded closely with her brother, Tom, and with the house servants, who loved her, protected her when she misbehaved, and taught her mahjong.

Thus began a grand adventure: At 13, three weeks on the Communist Trans-Siberian Railroad from northern China to Europe; five years in a Swiss boarding school; a harrowing six-week journey by ship and train back to Tientsin at 17; internment under Japanese military occupation of North China; near penniless evacuation to San Francisco at 19; and self-reinvention in the U.S. Foreign Service at 21. Emily's strong character, resilience and spunk developed during these early experiences and carried her through the ups and downs to come.

In Cairo, Egypt, during her first posting with the Foreign Service, Miss Miller earned accolades for her excellent work as secretary to the Petroleum Attache and to the Consul General at the U.S. Legation. She was nicknamed "Rags" by her roommates for her casual mending techniques (hilarious considering how meticulously turned out she always was). She became "Pinky" upon meeting the love of her life, U.S. Army Air Corps Capt. Jules Gindraux, on a blind date after a sunny day at the beach.

Jules and Pinky married in Cairo on Feb. 26, 1946, and commenced their grand adventure together. They moved to Beirut, Lebanon, where Pinky worked in the U.S. Legation as secretary to George Wadsworth, the U.S. Minister to Lebanon and Syria, and Jules helped create Middle East Airlines. Wherever they lived ... Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, India, Italy, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Morocco ... Pinky gathered friends, entertained in great style, helped others, was an integral part of Jules's airline career, played lots of mahjong and had much fun.

She and Jules enjoyed long and busy retirement years at Priest Lake, Hayden and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Pinky taught mahjong, raised beautiful marigolds from seed, and hosted very fun parties. She volunteered at the Priest Lake Museum, Priest Lake Library, Coeur d'Alene Hospice Thrift Store and at the Hayden elementary schools. She stayed in touch with close friends all over the world and made new friends everywhere she went. Her stylish outfits, smart hats, mischievous nature and straightforward manner earned her respect and affection, as well as kept her "Queen" and "Boss" nicknames affectionately apropos.

Pinky endured the loss of her son, Craig, in 2001, and the loss of her beloved Jules in 2013. She approached the end of her own grand adventure with her inimitable style and no-nonsense attitude. Decisive to the end, she asked that gifts in her memory go to Hospice of North Idaho or the Spokane Humane Society.

Pinky leaves behind daughter and son-in-law Karen and David Shill in Spokane, Wash., brother and sister-in-law Tom and Barbara Miller in California; niece Mary Pellow, and nephews Robert and Tommy Miller, and their families in California; and many treasured friends.

Jules used to say, "There could never be another like her," and he was right. She didn't like goodbyes, so "Tootle-oo!" with lots of love, Pinky, En, Mom, our Queen. Thank you for the great memories. You are missed more than words can express and almost more than the heart can bear.

Pinky's "It's Been a Good Ride!" remembrance will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23, at North Star Retirement Community, 2340 W. Seltice Way, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.