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Florence Luella Estes, 80

Florence Luella Estes, 80 years young, passed peacefully surrounded by her family on Feb. 20, 2018, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Florence was born on May 1, 1937, in Spokane, Wash. to Hazen Lloyd and Helen (Davis) Lambert.

Growing up in Spokane, Florence attended North Central High School and finished her schooling at Holy Names Academy in 1955. Shortly after, she married Don Guiles in 1956. She gave birth to her first of four sons, Howard. An end to that marriage followed in 1958. New Year’s Day, 1959, she re-kindled a spark with her childhood sweetheart from sixth grade at Holmes School in Spokane. She married Walter “Ernie” Estes on Aug. 8, 1959, in Spokane. For the next 58½ years they wrote a beautiful love story, adding three more sons to their family, John, David and Aaron.

Starting in 1965, Florence and Ernie fostered many children that needed their love and care. Finally, in 2016, health issues brought that chapter of their lives to a close. Even in her final days, Florence continued to give with her heart; inspiration and experience.

Florence lived with her family in Rathdrum, Idaho; Spokane, Wash.; Rockford, Wash, and for the last 30 plus years called Spirit Lake, Idaho her home.

She had a passion deeply rooted in caring for and helping others. A founding member of the Certified Family Homes Association from 1995 through 2007, Florence was instrumental in setting policy and writing regulations on a statewide and regional basis. She was proud to have worked her way to the top levels, where she dealt directly with Governor Kempthorne. Florence was a member of the LDS Church, The Red Hat Society, was a real fan of the Blanchard Community Center, the Grandmother’s Club of Spirit Lake and loved her Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Her surviving family includes her beloved husband, Walter Ernest Estes; sons, Howard (Pam) Estes of Hayden Lake, John Estes of Coeur d’Alene, David Estes of Spirit Lake, Aaron Estes of Boise, Idaho, Mike (Vicki) Barrett of Spokane Valley, Wash.; five grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her extended family (friends) numbers in the hundreds, some of them for 70 or more years.

On behalf of the family and friends, we say goodbye for now to Florence Luella Estes. Thank you for your inspiration, compassion and most of all, your unwavering love to the many souls you touched. You will not be forgotten.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018, with a viewing prior to the service at 8:30 a.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15151 N. Meyer Road, Rathdrum, ID 83858. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of arrangements. Please visit Florence’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.