Elara Boothe Turnbull Reynolds

Elara Jean Boothe Turnbull Reynolds, 84, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Sandpoint, Idaho after battling cancer for more than 20 years. She decided to endure no more chemotherapy or radiation.

Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel with Dale Coffelt officiating.

Elara was born on July 10, 1935, in Sagle, Idaho. She was the fourth daughter born to James and Mary Fox Boothe. She attended Sagle School grades 1 through 8 and graduated from Sandpoint High School. Her marriage to Robert Turnbull brought two children — Irena and Richard. Elara and Robert later divorced.

She worked 5 years with Ida Surbey at Co-op Gas and Supply, as a bookkeeper. After that she was a teller at Idaho First National Bank. In 1963, when Schweitzer opened, she cooked at the Pastime Cade for two years, and she was the only one that could keep the orders straight. At that time, they didn’t write the orders down, she just repeated them and did a great job. She then transferred to the Traveler’s (now 5th Avenue) where she worked as cook and a waitress. Later she worked as a clerk and bookkeeper at the gas station on the corner of Fifth and Pine. Her last job was at Walmart, starting as a cashier, she was moved to customer service manager prior to her retirement in 1998.

She married Don Reynolds on Nov. 30, 1999. They enjoyed 18 winters in Yuma, Ariz., and later divorced. She was active in PTA when her kids were in school. She enjoyed bowling, dancing, pinochle, and other card games. Tatting, knitting and crocheting were enjoyable pastimes.

Elara was preceded in death by her parents; her older sister Dolores, who died at 8 months; and her first husband. She is survived by her son, Richard (Jennifer) Turnbull; her daughter, Irene (Eric) Johnson; her sisters, Lasean Driggs and Frances Reed; five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Memorial donations may be made to the Sandpoint Senior Center, 820 Main St., Sandpoint, ID 83864 or to the Bonner General Health Hospice, 602 N. Third Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign Elara’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Coffelt Funeral Service.