Hazel J. Spickelmire, 91

Hazel Jennie Spickelmire,91 of Riggins, died July 19, 2006 of congestive heart failure at Grangeville Health and Rehabilitation in Grangeville.

She was born September 2, 1914, in Roseberry, to Willie and Cynthia (Jasper) Pottenger. She graduated from Roseberry High School. Hazel married Dick Spickelmire October 28, 1934 in Caldwell. They farmed between Donnelly and McCall, and Dick later worked for the Boise-Payette Lumber Co. at McCall and New Meadows. They started a dairy in New Meadows in 1945.

They moved to Riggins in 1948 where Dick worked as a logger before starting a logging business of their own. In 1965 the couple moved to Walla Walla, Wash., where they worked as counselors at The Blue Mountain Boys’ Ranch. Later they lived in Kooskia and Cascade before moving back to Riggins. Dick died in 1985. Hazel lived in Grangeville for 10 years before returning to Riggins.in 2003.

She is remembered for her quick wit, sharp memory and willingness to help out and become involved wherever she was needed.

She was active in many church and civic organizations, and was a charter member of the Garnet Rebekah Lodge, Salmon River Community Church, and the Riggins Red Hat Society. She could always be counted on to help care for sick friends and relatives. Hazel worked at many jobs throughout her life, from school lunch cook to representative for the Area Agency on Aging.

At her death, she was the matriarch of a large extended family that included many nieces and nephews. Hazel was passionate about her family and enjoyed attending annual family reunions of the Pottenger and Fields families in the Donnelly area.
She was preceded in death by her husband Dick; sisters, Viola Fields, Opal McDougal, Rose Anderson and Georgia Pottenger; her brother, Bill Pottenger; son Jerry Spickelmire; and granddaughter, Jennifer Spickelmire.

She is survived by daughters Jane Voss and husband Lawrence of Susanville, California; Joyce Barnard and husband Larry of Riggins; son Jim Spickelmire and wife Betty of Grangeville; brother Ben Pottenger and wife Doris of Eagle; daughter-in-law Judy Spickelmire of Boise; 15 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held Monday, July 24, 2006 at Salmon River Community Church in Riggins at 10:00 Mountain time, Pastor Harold Gott, officiating. Burial will follow at Crown Point Cemetery at Cascade.

Memorial donations may be made to Salmon River Community Church, 1102 S. Main, Riggins, ID 83549; Grangeville Christian Church, 402 W. S. 1st, Grangeville, ID 83530; or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville.