Alva 'Ozzie' Osborn, 91

Alva “Ozzie” Christy Osborn of Coeur d’Alene, died Feb. 13, 2024, at his home in Cd’A. Ozzie was born Nov. 13, 1932, in Kahoka, Mo., to Earl and Zola (Christy) Osborn. He attended grade school in Plattsburg, Mo., and graduated from Toluca Illinois High School in 1950. He studied forestry at the University of Illinois for two years and graduated from Colorado A&M (Colorado State), at Fort Collins, Colo., in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. He served two years in the Army as a lieutenant at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. There, he met and courted Kate Kristine “Kris” Eldridge in Baltimore, Md. They were married June 14, 1959, in Dillon, Mont., where he was working for the U.S. Forest Service. They lived for four years in Wisdom, Mont., and were blessed while there with two children: a daughter, Kari, and a son, Andy. They moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 1963.

Ozzie worked two summers for the U.S. Forest Service as a smoke jumper in Missoula, Mont. He had a career of 31 years as a forester with the U.S. Forest Service. After retirement, he managed his private forest land and was active on the board of directors for the Idaho Forest Owners Association. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Coeur d’Alene. He served as a deacon and elder for three years each and sang in the church choir for over 50 years. He loved barbershop music and sang with the Pages of Harmony in Spokane, the Lake City Harmonizers in Coeur d’Alene, and in many barbershop quartets.

Ozzie is survived by his daughter, Kari Dickinson, Moscow, Idaho; son and daughter-in-law Andy and Susanne (Chaffee) Osborn, Coeur d’Alene; eight grandchildren, Katelyn (Logan) Ownbey, Lindy (Jacob) McRae, Kiersti (Austin) Tilley, Daniel (Odessa) Osborn, Janae, Elisa, Faith and Joel; and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kris; sisters Jeanne Osborn, Minnie Lou Marshall and Wilda Osborn; brother Lemuel Osborn; and grandson Luke Osborn.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor McLane Stone officiating. 

Yates Funeral Home is overseeing arrangements. The family suggests memorials to the First Presbyterian Church of Coeur d’Alene, or Idaho Forest Owners Association — Education Foundation.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Ozzie, please visit our Tree Store. Please sign Ozzie’s online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.