Jesse Edwin 'Ed' Critchell, 57

Jesse Edwin "Ed" Critchell, 57, passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2006, in Spokane, Wash., after a brave battle with cancer.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 4, 2006, at First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive St., Sandpoint, Idaho, with Pastor Dave Olson officiating.

He was born on July 2, 1949, in Pineville, Ky., the son of Roy and Jessie Gilbert. He was later adopted by Kenneth and Roxie (Wood) Critchell of Dover, Idaho, and lived most of his life in the Sandpoint area.

Jesse graduated from Sandpoint Senior High School in 1967. In 1969, he joined the nation's fight in Vietnam and received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Cross of Gallantry as a rifleman with the Third Marine Division.

In 1975, he graduated first in his police academy class. His outstanding accomplishments drew national attention when President Gerald Ford called to congratulate him for being the first amputee to complete all program requirements. He worked as assistant police chief for the city of Shoshone, Idaho, before he continued his 20-year law enforcement career in Sandpoint.

Jesse was an avid outdoor sportsman and loved hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, photographing wildlife, and carving geese and duck decoys. He also volunteered with Ducks Unlimited to build nests for the protection of wild geese in our area. For many years, he shared his abundant garden bounty with the Senior Citizen Center in Sandpoint. Most recently, he volunteered and did fundraising with the local chapter of the NRA.

He will be sorely missed by all and is survived by his wife of 26 years, Janice; two children, Jaime and Briana; three sisters, Mary Gilbert-Widener of Hayden Lake, Idaho, Beth Evans of Dover, Idaho, and Molly Alexander of Pocatello, Idaho; three brothers, Kenneth Gilbert of Spokane, Wash., Roger Gilbert of Thompson Falls, Mont., and Tom Gilbert of Spokane; and numerous other relatives.

He was preceded in death by all four of his parents; and a sister, Maybelle Goloversic.

Memorials may be made in his name to First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive St., Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.