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, 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, in Junior Auxiliary, as a Girl Scout leader, a Delta Gamma alumni, volunteering at the Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise, and at Crane Creek Country Club. In Coeur d’Alene and Hayden, she was a member of the Cancer and Community Charities (3Cs) group and the 3Cs book club, Charity Chicks, Chapter AV-PEO, Hayden Lake Country Club, and was a volunteer at the CDA Visitor Center, a member of First Presbyterian Church and part of their Esther Circle and McCarty Christ Care group.
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 Brenamen of Springfield, Ore., 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; and nine great-grandchildren with two more expected this year.
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 4-foot-9, 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 and helped Madie live a wonderful 92 years.
Memorial services are pending until later this summer or early fall due to the coronavirus pandemic. The family prefers memorials to PEO Foundation Fund for Continuing Education, 3700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 64772-2790 or to 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.
