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Itha Hughes, 83

Itha Christine Hughes, 83, of Post Falls, died Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, while surrounded by family at Schneidmiller House, Hospice of North Idaho. She had resided at Pacifica Assisted Living in Dalton Gardens for the last two and a half years.

Itha was born July 22, 1934, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Victor and Nettie Nelson. She grew up on the east side of Hayden Lake where she attended East Hayden Lake School, a one-room schoolhouse, until eighth grade. She graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1952.

On July 30, 1955, she married Roy Hughes of Kettle Falls, Wash. They were married in Juneau, Alaska, and drove back to Coeur d’Alene on the unpaved Yukon Highway. Most of her married life, Itha lived near Huetter with her husband, Roy, and their five children, raising fruit and nurturing a huge garden. She has always enjoyed traveling and especially liked soaking in Ainsworth Hot Springs in Canada; one of her favorite trips was to Maui and Oahu Hawaiian islands in 1995.

Itha valued the fellowship of church friends and their home meetings and loved her family. Itha was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; and one daughter, Iola Thompson. Surviving children include Noella (George) Roots of Post Falls, Renee Hughes of California, Merry Zavala of Seaside, Ore., and Clint (Gail) Hughes of Meridian, Idaho.

Also surviving are a brother, Ernest (Reta) Nelson of Olympia, Wash.; and sisters Ruth (Denny) Spencer of Coeur d’Alene and Edith McCombs of Winnemucca, Nev. Grandchildren are Christy (Mike) Clauson, Don (Jennifer) Pratt, Krys (Trinity) Wortley, Laura Hendricks and Nevlin Wortley. Step-grandchildren are Joanne (Bret) Bloodgood, Shayna (Ely) Sheinfeld and Melanie Roots. Itha’s three great-grandchildren are Maci and Ashlee Clauson, and Starr Brookes. She has 10 step great-grandchildren and one step great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

Final arrangements are being handled by Yates Funeral Home. The memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden, Idaho. A reception will follow the service at Yates Funeral Home. A graveside service, at the small Rimrock Cemetery, just north of Hayden is planned at 1 p.m. for family and those that want to join them.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Museum of North Idaho or the Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation.

Please visit Itha’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.