Alice Rebecca Jenkins

Alice Jenkins went to be with the Lord January 20, 2011. She went exactly how she wanted - very peacefully. Alice was an integral and pivotal part of our very large, extended family, not from any choice of hers, but because we all loved and respected her, her kindness and willingness to always set a wonderful example and offer her support and great advice. Alice was the third child born to William and Emma Farrar. She arrived on June 14, 1913 in Erick, Oklahoma. She joined brother Clyde and sister Oleta. Her other siblings, brother Paul, sister Teresa and sister Emma Jean were born later. In the mid 1920s Alice and her family moved to Sandpoint, Idaho where Alice attend local schools and finished her education graduating from Sandpoint High School in 1932. She worked at the Page Hospital in Sandpoint and following graduation moved to Spokane where she had fond memories of being a clerk at the Palace Department Store. During the early part of 1934 she met a tall, handsome man named Howard Jenkins. Howard always said that once he heard Alice laugh he was a goner. They were married later that year and soon moved to Lodgegrass, Montana where Howard taught school and worked with the U.S. Forest Service. In 1946 Howard, Alice went into a business partnership with Alice's sister Oleta, her husband Howard Swanstrom. The families purchased the Mackey Brothers General Store and Motor Court in Naples, Idaho. Along with running the store, cleaning rental cabins, selling tickets to Saturday night dances at their dance hall, being Post Master and Assistant Postal worker, Alice and Howard still found time to spend taking their sons on hunting and fishing trips and visiting family. Alice and Howard retired in 1972 to enjoy the fruits of their labors and watch grandbabies grow. This time was short lived as Howard was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Alice lovingly cared for him until his death in 1997. It was difficult for her to live in their Naples home without him so she then moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho to be near her eldest son Jack and his family. Alice enjoyed going to the Coeur d'Alene Casino where she would "go gaming". She called it gaming because, to her, it sounded better than if she said she went gambling. In 2008 Alice returned to Naples where she lived with her youngest son Bill (Kim) and his wife Kelly. She enjoyed the comings and goings of assorted kids and grandkids with occasional drives and trips to the Kootenai River Inn for more "gaming". Alice was the true matriarch of the Jenkins clan and will be sorely missed by all of us. She was great at giving advice, putting things in perspective and sharing her great wisdom. Alice is survived by her son Jack and his wife Debra; her son Bill (Kim) and his wife Kelly; grandsons Jamie and his wife Jennifer; granddaughter Jacque and her husband David Duffin; grandson Josh; grandson Jake; grandson Ryan and his wife Sarah; grandson Brian ; grandson Even and his wife Bruq; nephew Don Swanstrom who was the son of her heart if not her body and his wife Nancy. She is also survived by nine great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and all their offspring all of whom she loved and was very proud. We will truly miss you Alice. Rest in Peace. Services for Alice will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Northside Christian Fellowship, 4400 Colburn-Culver Rd. north of Sandpoint, Idaho with Pastor Keith Goullette officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to The Shriners Hospital, 911 W 5th Ave., Spokane, Wa 99204