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Mavis Esther Oaks Magnuson Jones Parsons, 94

Feb. 25, 1923 — July 2, 2017

Mavis Esther Oaks was born in Aitkin County, Minn., to Roy F. and Ada C. Oaks. She graduated from Aitkin High School and shortly there after married Einar Magnuson. They farmed and operated a small sawmill in the Palisade, Minn., vicinity and moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with their two children, Judy and Buzz in 1948. They built their own home on Silver Beach Hill where he built a portable sawmill in their front yard (much to her dismay, as it took a long; longtime). He eventually moved it to Black Bay on the Spokane River and operated it there for about l0 years. Their son, Rick, was born during this time.

Mavis was a 4-H Club leader for several years and was a Sunday School teacher at the First Presbyterian Church, where she was a member, and where she and Einar served as co-youth leaders with Carl and Dorothy Krueger. She and Einar established and operated the Golden Era Antique Shop in Coeur d’Alene for 12 years.

Upon retirement, they bought a boat and spent several years exploring lakes and rivers in Idaho, Washington, Montana and British Columbia, as well as the Puget Sound area. They were members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. They enjoyed the good life until Einar’s death in 1994.

Mavis married Ray Jones in 1996 and they had many good times in Coeur d’Alene and Mesa, Ariz., until his death. She later married Frank Parsons. They lived in his Priest River, Idaho, home and though their time together was short, they had wonderful times fishing, family gatherings, traveling, social functions as members of the Priest River Yacht Club and just being together, until his death in 2006.

She moved to Spokane, Wash., in 2013 and lived at Holman Gardens, where she enjoyed many friends, activities, and the loving, caring staff. In February 2017, due to her ailing health, she moved to Guardian Angel Homes in Post Falls, Idaho, where her caretakers treated her and her family with love and compassion. They truly were her “guardian angels.”

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Mary; granddaughter Debbie Fritze; brothers Carl, Verne and Duke Oaks; brothers-in-law Curt Bruskland and Terry Nielsen; and sister-in-law Anne. She is survived by her children, Judy Pruitt of Spokane Valley, Wash., Buzz (and Abby) Magnuson of Twin Lakes Village, Idaho, and Rick (and Pauletta) Magnuson of Rathdrum, Idaho. Also her sister, Adamarie Neilsen of Redmond, Ore., and sister-in-law Ardis Oaks of Anchorage, Alaska; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; 11 nieces and nephews; as well as numerous family and step-family members; and her dear friends, Norm and Gail VanHouten of Mesa.

Memorials may be made to Guardian Angel Homes, 1050 E. Mullan, Post Falls, ID 83854; or Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 4066, Spokane, WA 99202.

She was an amazing and genuine lady, and we’ll remember her with love and joy, knowing that she has regained her fierce independence and is now well and happy in the loving embrace of God.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Mavis’ online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign her guest book.