Barbara Louise Arnold, 71

1945-2016

A life filled with energy and the determination to accomplish and enjoy all that she deemed worth doing, Barbara Arnold will leave an enormous void among her family, friends and community with her death. Surrounded with love, Barbara passed after complications from cancer at Hospice House on July 3, 2016, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

She was born in Berkeley, Calif., to parents Spencer and Jennette Arnold. Always fond of the written word, Barbara was the editor of her high school newspaper and went on to the University of Southern California to study journalism and serve as the editor of the university’s newspaper. Barbara continued the path of adventure and community service by joining the Peace Corps to fulfill what she envisioned would be the beginning of compulsory non-military service for our country.

Barbara moved to Idaho in 1976. With high ideals and dreams she and her husband, Jim Cultra, raised their family on a farm growing a bountiful garden of produce and flowers in addition to hay, grain, sheep and goats, while also raising two children, Carrie (Cultra) Eberly and James Cultra.

Her green thumb was second to none and her dedication to supporting local farmers and growers continued far beyond being a founding member of the Kootenai County Farmers Market, where you could find her business Nothing But Herbs. She also maintained a beautiful property filled with flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs where she enjoyed hosting countless gatherings for family, friends and community members. Most recently, she stayed involved in her community through service as a trustee for the Kootenai County Library and as past president of the League of Women Voters of North Idaho.

She enjoyed spending her free time painting, reading, relaxing in the outdoors, volunteering in the community and gardening.

Those who shared in the adventure of Barbara’s life and are left to continue her legacy of hard work and commitment to her family and community, are her husband Jim Cultra, son James Cultra, daughter Carrie Eberly, sister Mary Wells, niece and nephew Charles and Jennette Wells, nephew Creed Cultra, along and four grandchildren Dexter Cultra, Winston Cultra, Maggie Eberly and Hattie Eberly.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Hospice House at Hummingbird Fields or the Community Library Network Foundation.