Essie Vera (Keasling) Bushie Hale, 92

Essie Vera (Keasling) Bushie Hale, 92, formerly of St. James, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, in Sandpoint, Idaho

Services will be held at a later date. As per her wishes she will be cremated and laid to rest with her husband in the St. James Cemetery.

Essie was born on June 25, 1927, in St. James, the daughter of the late Sherman and Essie (Jones) Keasling. She was united in marriage to Leonard Taylor Bushie, who preceded her in death on April 27, 1988.

Essie worked as a seamstress for Califor-nia Manu-facturing in St. James, where she later retired. She was a longtime member of the St. James First Christian Church. She moved to Sandpoint to be with her daughter in 2012.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Ellen Clawson of Sandpoint; son Steven Bruce Bushie of Eldon, Mo.; two grandchildren, Brenden Clawson of Portland, Ore., and Cameron (Flora) Clawson of San Francisco, Calif.

She was also preceded in death by her four sisters, Gladys Howard, Mildred Bartle, Margaret Keasling, and Nadine Wools, and two brothers George and James Keasling.

Essie loved life and had a sharp mind with a keen sense of humor. She loved being around her fur babies, watching the hummingbirds feed, and listening to her favorite tunes on her cuckoo clock even if it didn’t tell the correct time. She loved kicking up her heels and spending time with good friends line dancing and playing cards.

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