Madie Jane Pray, 92
Madie Jane Pray, age 92, of Coeur d’Alene, died Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at her home. She was born Dec. 13, 1927, in Quincy, Ill., to James and Madie (Bacon) Johnson. The family moved to Arlington Heights, Ill., in 1942. Madie graduated from Arlington Heights Township High School in 1945. She then attended Purdue University and graduated with a B.S. degree in bacteriology in 1949. Madie was a member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity at Purdue.
Madie married Tom C.W. Pray Jr. in Arlington Heights, on March 26, 1955. In 1965, the family moved to Boise, Idaho, and then to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in 1978. In 1983, she and Tom started Inland Millwork and ultimately sold that business in 1988. She also worked at the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce, retiring in 1996.
Madie had been very active over the years as a board member of St. Luke’s Hospital Jr. Auxiliary, as a Girl Scout leader, a Delta Gamma alumni, and as a volunteer at the Elk’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise and the Crane Creek Country Club. In Coeur d’Alene and Hayden, she was a member of the 3Cs and 3Cs book club, Charity Chicks, Chapter AV-PEO, Hayden Lake Country Club, her bridge group, First Presbyterian Church and their Esther Circle and the McCarty Christ Care group. She was also a volunteer at the Coeur d’Alene Visitor Center
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Tom; a brother, James Johnson; and a daughter, Jayne P. Blitzer. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Sue and Dennis Amonsen of Redmond, Wash., Nancy and Ralph Brenaman of Springfield, Ore., and Peggy and Rex Fairfield of Athol, Idaho; a son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Susan Pray of Spirit Lake, Idaho; grandchildren, Christy (Lance) Kinley, Ben (Bonnie) Fairfield, Katie (Mustafa) Ostrander, Courtney Amonsen, Hillary (Mike) Montreuil, Casey (Elise) Pray, and Maggie (Jake) Brenner; 10 great-grandchildren (with one more expected this year); and five cherished nieces and nephews.
Whether it was water skiing at the family cabin on Warm Lake, playing golf at the country club, snow skiing at Bogus Basin, “whitewater rafting” in Canada, an intense game of bridge or a wild competition of “spoons,” Madie was up for the challenge. We will always remember this four-foot, nine-inch, 98-pound gentle giant with love and respect.
The family would like to thank her many friends, church family, sisters in PEO, and outstanding group of doctors and their medical teams. You all blessed Madie and helped her live a wonderful 92 years.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2020, at First Presbyterian Church, 521 E. Lakeside Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.
The family prefers memorials to PEO Foundation Fund for Continuing Education, 3700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 64772-2790 for Idaho Chapter AV, or the Union Gospel Mission Center for Women and Children of Coeur d’Alene.
Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of arrangements. Please visit Madie’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.
