Nelda Joyce (Standley) House, 83

Nelda House was called home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Feb. 14, 2024. She was surrounded by her family at Orchard Ridge Memory Care Center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Nelda was born at home in Chocolate Bayou, Texas, to Mamie Mae (Abshier) Standley and Clyde Lee Standley. She was the oldest daughter of their five children and helped to care for the home as well as her younger siblings. She attended elementary school in Manvel, Texas, where she learned to play basketball on a dirt court, and attended high school in Alvin, Texas, where she enjoyed playing the French horn in the school band. Nelda went on to graduate from Sam Houston State College in Huntsville, Texas, in 1962 with a bachelor of science in education.

She started her teaching career as a third grade teacher in Pasadena, Texas, and shortly after, married George Edward House Jr., whom she had dated during college. They soon moved to Petaluma, Calif., where they both taught in public school. During this time, they also celebrated the births of their children, Laura and Timothy. They were active in their local church and made many new friends. However, desiring a different environment to raise their family, they moved to Coeur d’Alene in 1967.

Nelda continued to nurture her passion for teaching young children for the next 36 years and taught in Coeur d’Alene School District 271 and at Emmanuel Baptist Church (now known as Pathway Church). In 1982, with the support of her church and her family, she became the founding director of Noah’s Ark Learning Center. She continued there as a kindergarten teacher until her retirement in 1998. When asked why she was retiring, she declared that when trying to be close to her students, she just couldn’t sit in the tiny children’s chairs anymore. 

She enjoyed many other activities including gardening, canning, cooking, playing the piano, sponsoring 4-H classes and singing in the church choir. George likes to say that she did not have a mean bone in her body. Above all, Nelda was most glad to be a servant of Jesus, reflecting Him in her life in every way. Her family takes great comfort in knowing they will be reunited with her again one day in heaven. 

Nelda is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, George House, of Coeur d’Alene; son Timothy House (Amy) of Dalton Gardens; son-in-law Ron Kennedy of Martinez, Calif.; granddaughter Abbie Kennedy of Bozeman, Mont.; and brother Stan Standley of Plymouth, Mass.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Clyde Lee Standley; sisters Earlene Standley and Ellen Hall; and daughter Laura House Kennedy. 

A celebration of life service for Nelda will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Pathway Church (3115 N. 15th St. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Open Arms.

Please visit Nelda’s memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.