Obituaries for April 17, 2008

Leo Chapman, 83, Weippe

   Leo R. Chapman, 83, a longtime resident of Weippe, passed away April 11, 2008 at Clearwater Health and Rehab Center in Orofino. Leo was born in Dagmar, MT June 26, 1924 to Clarence and Bernice Chapman.  He was one of 11 children. He attended Longfellow School in Shelby County. His family moved to Weippe in 1938. 

   Leo married Jean Johnson on September 27, 1944.  They had one daughter, Micki.  They were married 53 years before Jean passed away December 25, 1997.

   Leo worked as a sawmill foreman at Cardiff’s Mill in Pierce and at Potlatch Jaype Mill in Pierce until his retirement.

   Leo was a beloved character who never knew a stranger. He enjoyed fishing, camping, and taking pictures with his camera.  He was always on the go and took great pleasure in visiting with family and friends.

   His greatest joy was showing off his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

   Leo is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Micki and Gary Cole of Weippe; his granddaughter Lisa Doty and her husband, David of Lewiston; his grandson, Kevin Cole and his wife, SueLynn of Newman Lake, WA; his great-grand- son, Justin Doty and his wife Cassie of Weippe and his great-granddaughter, Katelyn Doty of Lewiston; as well as his two great-great-grandchildren Mikey and Kaleb Doty of Weippe.  Additional survivors include his two sisters, Maebellann Steadman and Barbara Knight and three brothers, Harold Chapman, Kenneth Chapman, and Buddy Chapman. 

   He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, three sisters and two brothers.

   Leo was a loving father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by his family. He has been cremated and no service will be held per his request.

Shannon L. Marcell, 42, Culdesac

   Shannon Larae Marcell of Culdesac died Thursday, April 10, 2008 in Lewiston of cancer. She was 42.

   She was born April 14, 1965 in Lewiston to Patty and Jim Barber.

   She married Steve Nygaard in April 1983 and they were divorced in Nov. 1986.  A son Cody Nygaard was born to this union.

   Shannon later married Steve Marcell and two children, a son and daughter were born to this union.

   Survivors include her husband, Steve Marcell of Culdesac; children Cody Nygaard of Lewiston, Charise Larae Marcell and Cody Marcell, both of Culdesac; her parents, Patty and Harold (Skip) Williamson of Lapwai; four brothers and two sisters.

   A memorial services was held Monday in Lapwai.

Billie Irby, 72, Orofino

   Billie Eugene Irby of Orofino died Friday, April 4, 2008, six months after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 72.

   Billie was born to Preston L. (P.L.) and Alice Eliza (Conn) Irby Feb. 24, 1936 on the family ranch in Cambridge. He was the youngest child of a family of five brothers and two sisters. He spent his younger years on the family ranch near Cambridge until moving in the late 1940’s to the North Fork of the Clearwater River, now known as the Elliot Ranch. Billie attended grade school at the Dent Country School House with his brother Bob, and high school at Orofino where he enjoyed participating on the boxing team.

   Before completion of high school he moved to Casper, WY. On returning to Idaho he chose the shortest route on the map which led him from Missoula, MT to Weippe, over the Lolo Motorway, nearly running out of gas in the process.

   Prior to Grangemont Road being constructed a land swap moved the family from the Elliot Ranch area to the Whiskey Creek Ranch where he resided until his death.

   Billie married Sharon Bell of Ahsahka. They had three sons, Samuel born in 1961, Rusty born in 1962 and Anthony born in 1965. That marriage ended in divorce.

   Billie later married Donna (Dickson) to whom a daughter Corie was born in 1971. That marriage ended in divorce.

   In 1982 Billie married Sally (Frost) who survives him in Orofino. They most enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially fishing.

   Billie was a woodsman. He worked in the Ahsahka Mill and logging for various people. He was drafted into the Army spending most of his two year tour of duty in Hawaii. Billie answered Uncle Sam’s call and joined the local National Guard during the Berlin Crisis call up spending a year in Ft. Lewis, WA. Just prior to his departure his first born arrived, hence the name Samuel.

   In 1971 he worked for various logging contractors in the Dworshak Dam clearing. Billie quit work to move to Clarkston so that he and Sally could care for his father until his father’s death in 1987. After that he went to work for the Forest Service where he found his true calling working at the Weitas Guard Station where he enjoyed the wildlife, even the mountain lions that stalked him. He left his beloved Weitas to care for his wife which he did up until a month before his death.

   He is survived by his wife Sally of Orofino, two brothers Don (Boise) and Harold (Nez Perce), three sons, Samuel (Velena) of Orofino, Rusty (Dawn) of Coeur d’Alene and Anthony (Danielle) of Lewiston, one daughter, Corie Samson (Marcus) of Orofino, one stepdaughter, Tammie Robertson-Bolz (Frosty) of Peck, 18 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and lots of friends.

   Billie was preceded in death by his parents, also four brothers, James, Eldon, George, and Robert and two sisters, Ethel and Dorothy, two stepdaughters Scherrie Olson-Hamm and Karryon Hall.

   Dad was courageous to the end. He had accepted the Lord into his life a few months prior to his death and was ready to go home.

   A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2 p.m. at the Orofino Tabernacle Church with a potluck dinner at the church directly after the service.