Tina C. Thayer-Canning, 61

Tina C. Thayer-Canning passed away in a fatal automobile accident in Moses Lake, Washington on Father's Day, June 17, 2007. She was 61.

Visitation will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 22, 2007, at Riplinger Funeral Home 4305 N. Division, Spokane, Wash. A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2007, at Riplinger Funeral Home with interment at Fairmount Memorial Park, 5200 W. Wellesley, following the service.

She was born in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 20, 1945, while her father was in the Navy at Pataxent River Maryland Air Base. When she was 4 1/2 months old, she, and her parents returned to Spokane. Tina attended Millwood Grade School in Spokane Valley. She then graduated from Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Wash., returning to Spokane Valley the next year.

She attended North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Tina worked at Newberry's Lunch Counter in Spokane and worked several years for Eugene's Flowers in Spokane. It was at this time she met and married David Canning and together they had four wonderful children. They were later divorced.

Tina spent several years working in Montgomery Ward's Drapery and Linen Department. She then joined her father in his office, Thayer Seed & Sod, in Rathdrum, Idaho. And also worked in Real Estate for Pacific Reality in Rathdrum.

Tina had many talents. She was an excellent seamstress, craftsman and was always able to make everyone she met feel very special. Tina bought her property at Priest Lake, Idaho, in 1990 and filled it with her special love for animals of all kinds. She took in many strays, human as well as animal.

The word "no" was not in her vocabulary. People she dealt with in real estate say they have never met anyone like her. She was more interested in helping them than selling to them.

Tina was a gentle soul.

She is survived by her four loving children, three sons and a daughter, Martin Canning of North Carolina, Victoria (Richard) Ugron of Houston, Texas, Brent Canning of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and Tom (Carol) Canning of Seattle, Wash. Tina is also survived by her 11 grandchildren and a great-grandson, of whom she was extremely fond and proud; her grandchildren, Tanasha McCray and Christopher Canning of Spokane, Alexis and Madison Canning of Cusick, Wash., Piper Canning of Snohomish, Wash., Kyle, Nicholas and Micayla Ugron of Houston, and Andrew, George and Thomas Canning of Spangle, Wash.; and greatagrandson Hayden McCray of Spokane. She is also survived by her parents, George and Audrey Thayer; and brother, Arthur, all of Rathdrum, Idaho; Art's children and grandchildren, Shannon (Robert) Coles, Ashleigh and Haleigh Coles of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Heather and Chad Solsvik of Coeur d'Alene, and Jesse Thayer of Rathdrum. Her grandparents, Osie and Annie Thayer and Edmund and Grace McCabe, preceded Tina in death.