Deloyce Ayers

Obituary of Deloyce Ayers

Deloyce "Dee" Ayers was born on March 24, 1921 in Searcy County, Arkansas and passed away peacefully on April 6, 2021. She was the fourth girl born to her parents Claude and Goldie Jackson. Her three older sisters were, Ella, Elma and Velma (all deceased). Youngest sister, Claudia and spouse Thorne Hilts, live in Vancouver, Washington. Dee attended school at the Head Community, near Green Forest, Arkansas, which only went through the eighth grade. Because she loved school so much, she repeated eighth grade more than once so she could continue learning and be with her friends.

Dee met her future husband, Cleo Ayers, when they were in the third grade. Cleo changed schools when his family moved, but not so far away that he couldn't keep track of where she was. Later, Cleo rode a farm horse to court her. Cleo would borrow his dad’s car and take Dee for a ride. They were married on December 24, 1936, on her parent’s 25th wedding anniversary. In 1937, Cleo and Dee, along with Claude, Goldie and sister Claudia, moved to Weiser, Idaho. They traveled in a 1928 Overland automobile loaded with their bedding, food and belongings. They slept in one-room cabins, which included a bed and a table but no bathrooms or running water. After traveling for ten days, they arrived in Weiser.

Dee and Cleo loved to fish and camp. This was done all over Idaho in tents and later in motorhomes. Dee always had a garden and loved to preserve her harvest and could also make the best banana cream pie. After they moved to Eden, Idaho, she worked outside the home in restaurants and grocery stores. When their children were in school, she worked in the hot lunch program at Valley High School in Eden. Her longest job was as a postal service clerk in Paul, Idaho, and later on as postmaster in Fruitland, Idaho. She enjoyed her 17 years spent at the Post Office.

One special trip was a fishing trip to Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada were they fished for Northern Pike and Walleye. All of their children and son-in-law, Larry, and one grandchild, Jeff, got to go on this trip. What a trip, the Pike were smoked and enjoyed on the way home.

Children born to Cleo and Dee: Floyd (Jackie), both deceased, Dorothea (Larry) Hansen of Boise, Idaho, and Gary (Kathie) of Newberg, Oregon. Grandchildren: Michelle, Jeff, Linda, Tami, Lisa, Krista and Craig and step grandchildren Brett, Chad and Robb Gordon.  She also had twenty-six great grandchildren, twenty great-great grandchildren and three more expected this year. Dee considered family to be everything!

Deloyce was preceded in death by her husband Cleo in 1986. They were married 49 years and 5 months.

Deloyce married William "Bill" Rice in 1989. They enjoyed a trip to Alaska, and enjoyed his two children Karon (deceased) and Jeff. Jeff and his wife Kathie have two children, Stephanie and Megan. Bill Passed away in 2006.

Her last fifteen years were spent at Morning Star in Boise, Idaho, where she recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

Dee has requested a graveside service, which will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery in Weiser, Idaho, Monday, April 12, 2021 at 11:00 am.

 

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A Memorial Tree was planted for Deloyce
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Thomason Funeral Home & Crematory - Weiser