Helen Pauline Newell Pearcy, 95
Helen Pearcy, 95, of Coeur d'Alene, passed away Friday, Sept. 5, 2014, at Ivy Court.
Mom was born on March 24, 1919, to Daniel J. Newell and Clara Fischbach Newell in her grandparents' home at Silver Beach in Coeur d'Alene. She was raised on the family farm in Blue Creek.
Helen attended country schools in Blue Creek and Sunny Side until high school, when she went to Coeur d'Alene High School on 7th Street in Coeur d'Alene.
While attending a dance at the 3C camps in Beauty Bay, east of Coeur d'Alene, Helen met Thomas W. Pearcy from Little Rock, Ark. They were married on March 6, 1936, in Spokane, Wash. Helen and Thomas had four children.
Mom loved to travel, making many trips up and down the West Coast from Alaska to Southern California. She spent many winters in Arizona, but Coeur d'Alene was always home to her. She was an avid rock hound, thrift store and garage sale shopper, and loved to go camping.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas W. Pearcy; her son, Thomas W. Pearcy, Jr.; grandson Dougie T. Pearcy of Soldotna, Alaska; great grandson P.J. Dingman of Coeur d'Alene; and parents Dan and Clara Newell.
Helen is survived by her sons Doyne J. Pearcy (Sharon) of Post Falls, and Dann R. Pearcy (Cindy) of Hayden Lake; and daughter Marie E. Edinger (Jim) of Coeur d'Alene. She was "Lil Gramma" to 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her older sister, Viola Urbanek of Hayden Lake; younger brother James T. Newell of Coeur d'Alene; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Helen was a longtime member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
A private graveside service will be held at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene. English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 2003 Kootenai Health Way, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814.
Visit Helen's online memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.