Florence (Moots) Dauster Leishman

| April 1, 2016 1:00 AM

photo

On March 10, 2016, Moots, peacefully passed away and made her journey to be with our Lord Jesus. Moots was born in St. Louis, Mo., on July 17, 1932, to Ferdinand and Florence Dauster. In 1934, at the age of two, her family moved to the Pacific Northwest. She made Sandpoint, Idaho, her home in 1946 when she met and married Charles Gurney. They had two daughters, Laura and Catherine. Charles passed unexpectedly in 1952.

In 1953, Moots married Fred Brooks and they had two children, Michael and Christi.

Moots was an active member in the Sandpoint community. She belonged to the local Eagles Chapter and served as den mother for both Cub and Boy Scouts for several years. She looked forward to the Fourth of July Children's Parade each year where she entered both her children and grandchildren in the event from the '60s through the '90s and always came out a winner.

In the 1970s, she was one of the first members of the Bonner County Search and Rescue with her beloved AKC English Bloodhounds. They performed several searches in Bonner County and successfully found lost hikers, hunters and fishermen. During the '70s she was a 4-H leader, instructing dog obedience for the Schweitzer Mountain Dwellers. For years she entered the Bonner County Fair with her famous red velvet cake, angel food cake and Swedish tea ring that often won blue ribbons. Florence loved traveling, fishing, camping, picking morel mushrooms and huckleberries, dog breeding, playing cards, gardening, canning and especially shopping yard sales. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends.

In 1976, Moots married Waldo Larson, who worked for Oregon State Parks and moved to Tillamook, Ore. She enjoyed the coastal life, salmon fishing and crabbing with the many lifelong friends they made. It was there, her daughter, Christi married Gary Strenke and had three daughters, Brianna, Brooke and Brittney. Grandma Larson and Waldo loved sharing in their everyday lives. In 1985, after Waldo's retirement, they all relocated to Laclede, Idaho.

In 2001, Moots married Gilbert Leishman and lived the next 14 years in Amboy and Moses Lake, Wash. Last February, she returned to Sandpoint to be closer to family. She enjoyed the morning paper, surfing the web and playing computer games, and most of all keeping up with family and friends. Moots looked forward to her weekly Bible study group and knew and loved Jesus.

Moots is survived by three daughters and one son, Laura Lines (Bruce) of Bellevue, Wash., Catherine Paine (Dick) of Dundee, Ore., Christi Strenke of Laclede, and Michael Brooks Sr. (Darlene) of Laclede; 10 grandchildren, Cary Goullette, Melissa Goullette, Danielle Goullette Piraino, Jace Paine, Cami Lines Carris, Corin Lines, Brianna Strenke Beard, Brooke Strenke Lamb, Brittney Strenke Mitchell, and Michael Brooks Jr., as well as 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She also leaves behind two sisters, Helen Wiest and Pearl Gooby, both of Renton, Wash., a brother, Joseph Dauster of Canton, La.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Moots is proceeded in death by husbands, Charles (Chuck) Gurney, and Waldo Larson; and a son-in-law, Gary Strenke.

Moots's family is planning a July event to celebrate her life around her birthday.

“Beyond the sunset there lies a golden shore where all shall meet to be at home forever more”.