Mikell P. Mowreader, 85

Mikell P. Mowreader, 85

Mikell P. Mowreader, 85, of Hayden, passed away at her home on May 4, 2020.

Mikell was born at home in Kellogg, on April 13, 1935, to Ray and Pierina (Pucci) Arnold. She attended school in Kellogg until the family moved to Sandpoint and ultimately settled in Bonners Ferry. She graduated from Bonners Ferry High School with the class of 1953.

She and Lee C. Mowreader met in Bonners Ferry and were married Oct. 10, 1954.

Mikell and Lee moved numerous times following Lee’s job for the Bureau of Public Roads, Federal Highway Administration. They had five children and Mikell was a homemaker while raising their children.

They settled in St. Maries in 1971. She started her career with the St. Maries Public Library in 1980, as the assistant librarian. She loved working at the library and took great pride in her years spent there. She retired as the head librarian in 1996.

They moved to Hayden in 2006.

She is survived by five children: Katharine (Doug) McPherson, Sheryl (Floyd) McPherson, James Mowreader, Robert Mowreader and Janet (Rob) Denton; three granddaughters: Sara (Jason) McPherson, Robyn (Cody), and Rebecca (Jeffrey) Reznicek; and three great-grandchildren: Sydney, Collin and Rex. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her only sister, Judith Nelson.

The family plans a private graveside ceremony in July and suggests memorials to Hospice of North Idaho, Feeding America or the St. Maries Chapter of Friends of the Library.