Florence Evelyn Portrey Haynes 1908 ~ 2006
June 9, 2006
On Monday evening, June 5, 2006, Florence Evelyn Haynes of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, passed away at the age of 97. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home Chapel.
She is survived by her four children, Margaret (Frank) Klein of Bonners Ferry, Jack (Norma) Haynes of Bonsall, California, Audrey (Russ) Dood of Rainier, Oregon, and Larry Haynes of Bremerton, Washington; 21 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren. Florence is also survived by her sister-in-law, Audrey Portrey, of Longview, Washington and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband John, two sons Donald and Derald, a grandson Terry, and all of her siblings.
Florence Evelyn Portrey was born to Charles and Eva in a tiny sod house on the plains near Sidney, Nebraska on June 29, 1908. Florence was the seventh of nine children, five sons and four daughters. She moved with her family shortly after World War I to Colorado settling near Eads where they earned their living at farming and ranching.
Florence completed her education through the 9th grade, quitting in order to help with the family farm, choosing to do the outside work while her two sisters worked inside. She liked riding horses, which was a good thing as that was her only way of attending social functions, especially the dances she loved.
Florence met the love of her life, John Haynes, when she was eighteen years old. They were married in Eads on August 29, 1927. They earned their living farming and ranching in the Eads area where their children were born. In 1947 they moved to Florence, Colorado for a short time. They then moved to Howard, Colorado in the heart of the Rockies until 1951 when they moved to Idaho and bought Round Prairie Ranch north of Bonners Ferry. There they raised registered Herefords and built fond memories with their grandchildren. They had a steady stream of their grandkids during the summer and as busy as they were, always made time for them, saddling horses, fishing, playing games and cooking.
While living at the ranch, they had a constant stream of drop-in guests. Florence had the ability to serve a wonderful meal no matter what the situation. This served her well when she worked for six years as the cook at Mt. Hall school. Florence and John eventually retired and spent their remaining years living in town in Bonners Ferry.
Florence was light-hearted, with a keen sense of humor and a strong work ethic that she tried to pass on to her children and grandchildren. “All that you do, do with your might. Things done by half are never done right.” She had many talents, such as being a wonderful cook and homemaker, working alongside John doing the myriad of chores needed on the ranch, and exercising her mind daily by reciting poems and songs she had memorized in childhood. Her interests included crocheting, with which she won many ribbons at the county fair even into her nineties. And, one of her passions was playing Pinochle.
Anyone who knew Florence knew that the most important things in her life were her husband, children and grandchildren. She was never happier than when they were all gathered around her.
Originally published on the website - Kootenai Valley Press
www.kvpress.com/obituaries/2006/0605haynes.htm
