Mary Louise Courser

Mary Louise Courser, aged 82 passed away on Sept. 23 at Rose Terrace Cottages, Assisted Living Home, in Coeur d’ Alone Idaho surrounded by her family. Mary was born July 23, 1930 in Billings Montana, the oldest child of Elmer M. and Sylvia (Meader) Woods. In 1943, Mary’s family bought an old, 160 acre homestead on Upper Pack River. Mary attended the one, room school house up the “Pack” by riding her horse to and from school every day. When it came time for high school, Mary took a job with a family in Sandpoint helping with children and chores in lieu of board and room in order to attend high school. Mary married Lawrence B. Courser, also of Pack River, in the year of 1946. They began their lives together in Montana working on ranches and at logging camps. Mary and Lawrence had nine children, seven daughters and two sons. The family moved several times following the logging jobs; Mary lived a majority of her life throughout Montana retiring back at the Pack River Ranch in the early 80s. At that time, Mary went back to school to get her GED followed by an LPN. Mary worked at the Mineral County Hospital in Superior, Montana and the Wyoming State Hospital. Mary was a life-long member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sandpoint, Idaho. She was very involved with the soup kitchen and local food bank. Mary had many talents and passions. Mary played guitar, sang, and loved to dance. She loved animals, great and small, especially parrots and had several throughout her life. Mary was considered a wonderful cook especially her breads, cinnamon twists, and she always had her cookie jar full of fresh baked cookies for all who came to her home. Mary was “Grandma” to the many children whose lives she touched believing it took a village. Mary is survived by her nine children (oldest to youngest)- Kaci (Hank) Courser- Warren of Eagle River, AK; Larry (Nancy) Courser of Upper Pack River Sandpoint, ID; Teri (Bob) Heinrich of Coeur d’ Alene, ID; Laura Courser of Superior, MT; Judy (Randy) Wakefield of Post Falls, ID; Chris (Kim) Courser of Upper Pack River; Tamara (Rex) Romagnolo of Hayden Lake, ID; Leona (Jack) Knaggs of Sagle, ID; and Lenor (Joe) DuPont of Lewiston, ID. Mary is also survived by, and will be greatly missed by, her 33 grand -children and 35 great- grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence in 1992 and her parents, Sylvia and Elmer Woods, two younger brothers, Frank and George, a younger sister, Thelma (Woods) Decosta, and her grandson, Jake Heinrich. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Coffelt Funeral Home in Sandpoint, ID. Family and friends are invited to attend a rosary vigil service at 7 p.m. Friday September 28th at Coffelt (Moon Chapel) as well as her Mass Christian service held Saturday September 29th at the Catholic Church in Sandpoint, ID eleven a.m. in the morning. At a later date, a private, family gathering will take place at the family’s cemetery, The Lazy L Ranch, Upper Pack River, Sandpoint, ID. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the food bank and/or soup kitchens of your choice. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the loving staff at Rose Terrace, Assisted Living Home (‘B’ Cottage), and to Mary’s special friend, Delores Hawkins (affiliated with Alzheimer’s Resource, Coeur d’ Alene Branch and with St. Pious Parrish). Father Andrew Vastis of St. Pious Parrish (CDA) conducted Mary’s Last Rites. Mary would have also liked her family express her love for the many friends, in-laws, and outlaws that came in and out of her life. Her heart was full. Mary was “salt-of- the- earth”.