Ila Irene Jones, 73

On Sept. 23, 2016, our feisty mom, Ila Irene Jones, lost her long battle with a rare disease called Scleroderma. She suffered for 16 years with the disease. It is a horrible auto-immune disease, of which there is no cure. People sometimes teased her about typing in capital letters. She did it because her hands were like stone.

She was born Jan. 19, 1943, to Harold N. Moser and Edna H. (Wright) in Los Angeles, Calif. Her parents had come to California from Canada for better times during the Depression. Later, the family settled in Coeur d'Alene to be closer to family. Always opinionated, passionate and a fighter, she cared for the underdogs.

Prior to this disease, and before retiring, she had been a teacher at North Idaho College with a master’s degree in education, a Vista volunteer in the correctional system and a master gardener. Her students loved her, as she was so good at what she did.

She played three instruments, sang and painted. She was artistic, had style and loved to buy and fix up houses (much to the chagrin of her children). She read books like a maniac. She especially loved history. She made her four daughters think she was never afraid of anything. She said "money didn't buy class, good manners or intelligence." She also told her daughters that there was no "excuse for poor grammar or ignorance, as libraries were free."

She could be confrontational and exasperating. She had an "acid tongue" and a wit to match. She always corrected everyone's grammar. She told her children and grandchildren, "never take anything at face value, and question everything." She was bigger than life, and I hope all of her friends will continue to fight against the injustice she saw in the world. She would say "don't let the bastards wear you down." She was so proud of her daughters, her garden and her grandchildren.

Toward the end of her life, she shut herself off from many of her closest friends, telling her daughter, "I just can't go do anything with anyone anymore, because of this disease." She could no longer drive, was sensitive to hot weather and cold weather. It made her sad, but she fought on, and just worked hard to survive each day.

She leaves behind sisters Kathy Goodson and Mary Neidhardt, daughters Kim (Phil) Corlis, Sue (Dan) Peterson, Tina (Brian) Cowan and Tery (Chris) Garras. Also left are her grandchildren, Todd Henrickson, Brad Peterson, Brieanna Smith, Scott Rozell, Kameron Manley, Nick, Alex and Kathryn Garras, Courtney and Brison Cowan and nieces Michelle (Clarence) Cook, Jennifer Goodson and nephew Christopher Goodson. A very special mention to dearest Harvey Dougall ("We will always be family and the best of friends") and his daughters Krystal and Jennifer. Great-grandchildren she adored: Dani Peterson, Luke Peterson, Charles Manley, Carter Delport and Quinne Rozell.

At her request, no funeral will be held. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to: Friends of The Library.

Her daughters would like anyone reading this to go online and become familiar with Scleroderma. Spread awareness about this horrible disease.

English Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit Ila's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.