Irma B. Warren, 97

Irma B. Warren, 97, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Viewing for family and friends will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, at the Lakeview Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Nancy Copeland-Payton officiating. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Cemetery.

Irma was born on Dec. 3, 1909, to Ira and Etta Thomas. Irma, at the age of 3, arrived with her mother to the wilds of The Peninsula, the Glengary and Midas area. She, her mother, and her stepfather, Joseph Drauschke, built the house sitting at the three corners of Sagle, Glengary, and Garfield Bay cutoff roads. This property was situated across the road from the Newman School, where she attended school through the eighth grade. Not having the means to continue her education, she worked on "the place" where her appreciation for hard work was nurtured.

After a few dances at the Glengary Dance Hall, she met and married the drummer, Clifford "Tip" Warren. The couple was married on July 2, 1927, in Sandpoint. They built a small home in Sandpoint and had three girls. They soon outgrew the small one-room house and moved into a home that Irma occupied for more than 65 years.

Irma began a day care center soon after Farragut Naval Station became operational. She became a favorite of Navy wives, not only for her loving care of children, but because she was a mother and grandmother to the young wives far from their childhood homes. Besides a listening ear, her fees were very nominal and included meals that were each child's favorite. Her practice thrived on after the war, and in 1965 she was a nominee for Bonner County Mother of the Year. She was a mentor for many young mothers who thanked her for caring and for her kindness. She gave and expected nothing in return.

Irma was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she and "Tip" were married. She has lived at the Life Care Center in Sandpoint for the past two years and where she was loved and well cared for.

She is survived by her two daughters, Lois (Harley) Gunter of Sagle, Idaho, and Velma (Gary) Wescott of Sagle; a son-in-law, Bob Farmin of Sandpoint; 10 grandchildren, Michael (Karen) Gunter of Sagle, Patrick (Monica) Gunter of Sagle, Diane (Al) Gatrost of Independence, Mo., Darla (Dennis) Grewal of Creston, British Columbia, Canada, Dan (Jo-Anne) Farmin of Newport, Wash., Cindy (Dave) DeMers of Sagle, Kris (Scott) Salesky of Laclede, Idaho, Rob (Becky Stevens) Farmin of Newport, Steven (Tamera) Wescott of Seattle, Wash., and Jeffrey (Tracey) Wescott of Hastings, Mich.; 27 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Dorothy Farmin; her husband of 54 years, Clifford 'Tip' O. Warren; her mother, Etta (Anger) Lomax; and her stepfather, Joseph Drauschke.

To continue Irma's custom of giving and caring for children, memorials may be made to Kinderhaven, PO Box 2097, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Irma's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her online guest book.