Phyllis J. Daniel, 79
Phyllis J. Daniel, 79, passed away, after her courageous battle with a brief illness, on January 9, 2010 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
The funeral Mass will be conducted at 11a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
Phyllis was born in Bonners Ferry on March 26, 1930, the daughter of Roy and Dina (Lefebvre) Seaman. She attended local elementary schools and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1949. Following graduation she moved to Seattle, Wash., to work, as a telephone operator, for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
She met and married Basil Cooper in Havre, Mont., in 1951. They had two daughters Debbie and Pam, living on the family property on Ruby Creek prior to moving to Bonners Ferry in 1956. They later divorced in 1975.
In 1983, Phyllis married Don Daniel and they enjoyed becoming snowbirds, going south to Arizona for the winters. Phyllis continued to reside at the family home on the South Hill after Don’s passing in 2006.
Phyllis had a great compassion and love for anyone in need and this was exemplified by her becoming a foster parent in the late ’60s and early ’70s. She also had a strong passion for assuring all God’s creatures were taken care of and often spoke of her desire to start her own animal shelter for orphaned dogs.
Everyone who knew Phyllis knew of her huge heart and sense of humor, which she kept right up until the time of her death. She enjoyed working with her hands, loving sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and beadwork, and took great pride in her Betty Boop collection.
She was a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church and the Altar society, a former Girl Scout and 4-H leader.
Phyllis’ happiest times were those spent with her family and she found no greater excitement than when her great-grandchildren visited her from Illinois. She was delighted recently to find out that her third great-grandchild was expected this May.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her first husband, Basil Cooper; her husband, Don Daniel; father and mother, Roy and Dina Seaman; and a sister, Ruth Price Daniel.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Allan Koski of Sandpoint, and Pam and Rick Torgeson of Ferndale, Wash.; grandchildren, Jennifer, Tyson, Jason, Courtnay, and Jessica; and great-grandchildren, Emily and Arrianna; two sisters, Helen Hill of Bonners Ferry and Lynda Bratt of Hoquiam, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Those who wish to honor Phyllis’ memory mad do so by contributing to the Fibromyalgia Research Foundation or the ASPCA.
Family and friends are invited to sign Phyllis’s online guest book at www.bonnerferrysfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonner’s Ferry Funeral Home.