Elizabeth May Weaver, 96, passed away on March 9, 2007, at Boise, Idaho. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 27, at 11 a.m. at the University Christian Church, 1801 University Drive, Boise.
Elizabeth was born May 25, 1910, in Stevenson, Calif., to Asa and Blanche Prescott VanSlyke. The family moved to Idaho in 1912. Elizabeth graduated from Nampa (Idaho) High School in 1927. She attended Lewiston Normal School, earning a “life certificate” to teach in Idaho. She taught for several years in the Nampa area, during which time she met Harry A. Weaver. The couple married on April 16, 1933, and lived in and around Nampa, where all of their children were born.
In 1946, the family moved to Baker, Ore. Elizabeth was an involved and loving mother to her active family. She was a member of the Baker Christian Church during this period, and counted members of the church and the Mary Martha ladies’ group among her friends for life. Beginning in 1949, before kindergarten was included in the public school curriculum, she conducted kindergarten classes in the family home at 2491 Eighth Street. This continued until 1954, when Harry’s employment took them to Boise.
Upon her return to Idaho, Elizabeth resumed her teaching career, and concurrently, attended classes at the University of Idaho (Boise campus, then Moscow), graduating with a degree in Education in 1965. She taught first grade, mostly at Collister school, for 21 years, until her retirement in 1975. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, a teachers’ honorary sorority, and served terms as local and Idaho state president of the organization.
A longtime member of University Christian Church in Boise, Elizabeth was actively involved in the women’s group. She was a dedicated volunteer, as well, with St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise giving recognition on a number of occasions to her efforts, including “Volunteer of the Year” honors. She was ‘on duty’ every Monday for many years, leaving the post the week she turned 95. She continued to knit caps and booties and make teddy bears for the children of St. Luke’s. These activities continued well into her 95th year, when a stroke curtailed her involvement.
Elizabeth delighted in the scenes of Idaho and other states, including Alaska. Her favorite places included Wallowa Lake, and she quite recently enjoyed trips to the Lake, as well as to the Oregon coast, Mount St. Helens, and points west. She also had made memorable visits into Canada, to The Netherlands, and in 2002, to Ireland. A grandson, Joe Abel, accompanied her on a number of trips. She also took Joe to church weekly, and managed to fold his wheelchair and place it in the trunk of her car without much apparent effort. She was living independently in her home and driving her car until the day she became ill.
Elizabeth’s gentle, cooperative nature, her independent spirit, and her good health and long, productive life made her an inspiration to her family and the many others who knew her. We were blessed.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol (Don) Thompson, Pendleton, Ore., and Connie Weaver, Boise, Idaho; son, Wendell (Shirley) Weaver, Boise; son-in-law, James A. Smith, Anchorage, Alaska; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three step-granddaughters and their families; sisters-in-law, Ruth VanSlyke and Marie Weaver; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry, in 1967; daughters, Judy Weaver and Karen Smith; grandson, Gregory Weaver; brothers, Herbert VanSlyke and Howard VanSlyke; sister, Ruth Gross Bernethy.
The family suggests memorials to Christian Women’s Fellowship, University Christian Church, 1801 University Drive, Boise, ID 83706; St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital or St. Luke’s Auxiliary, 190 E. Bannock Street, Boise, ID 83712; and Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship Program, 5401 Lockport, Boise, ID 83703.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, March, 2007
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor