Elizabeth Murphy O'Brien, 70

Elizabeth Murphy O'Brien, 70, lost her 14-year fight with cancer and heart disease surrounded in love by her family and friends on Monday, April 12.

A Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2004, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene chapel. The memorial mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 17, 2004, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sandpoint.

Elizabeth was born March 20, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, to Dr. Frank J. and Anne (Scullion) Murphy. She moved with her family to Spirit Lake during World War II, where her father was stationed at Farragut Naval Base.

After the war, her family settled in Hillsborough, Calif. She attended Sacred Heart Academy then went on to college, where she met Jack O'Brien. They were married on May 31, 1958, in Hillsborough. In September 1963, they moved to the family cattle ranch in the Hoodoo Valley, where they raised four children.

Elizabeth enjoyed being active in Southside School activities and being a 4-H leader in any project that needed one. She also loved being secretary for horse shows for many years. Elizabeth and Jack were instrumental in starting the "Thank Goodness It's the Last Horse Show of the Season" horse show to raise money for the local 4-H groups.

Jack and Elizabeth were partners in starting Gem Berry Products.

She was a member of the E-DA-HA Garden Club for many years. After her children were grown, she enjoyed traveling extensively with Jack, gardening, boating, camping and going anywhere with her eight grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Jack, of 46 years; daughters, Anne Aiziawa and husband, Brent, Julie Kuisti, Mary Miller and husband, Gary, and Amy Schroeder and husband, Jay; and grandchildren, Emily, Ryan, Katie, Trevor, Luke, Clint, Klaus and Gretchen. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, Idaho, 83835; or the North Idaho Cancer Center of Sandpoint in care of the KMC Foundation, 2003 Lincoln Way, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 83814.

You may visit Elizabeth's memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

Yates Funeral Home of Coeur d'Alene is in charge of arrangements.