Marcella Lee Abell

Marcella Lee (Elston) Abell 66, passed away May 6 at home attended by her husband, Gareth, and her son Gareth II. After having struggled for twenty-six years as a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair she succumbed to natural causes. A Celebration of her life will be held at the gymnasium of Valley View Elementary School in Bonners Ferry at 10:00 am on Saturday May 28, 2011. In lieu of flowers, money should be sent to the PTA at Valley View Elementary. She was born in Kendalville, Indiana March 16, 1945 and raised in Niles, Michigan where her father was a pastor. Marcella attended Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana where she met her husband, Gareth, of forty-six years. While attending Anderson College, she had her daughters Katie and Melanie. After graduating from Anderson, she taught in the Anderson School District while obtaining her MA from Ball State University and having her third child Gareth II. Her family moved to Bonners Ferry when she got a job at Valley View Elementary in 1977. Mrs. Abell taught for eight years in Anderson, Indiana and for twenty-four years at Valley View. Hers was an active life and one where she served the Lord in all that she did. With the outdoors and the small farm their family owned, she loved north Idaho. Spruce Lake and the Roman Nose Lakes were places she loved while the four Snow Creek Falls were her all-time favorites. She is preceded in death by her father, one brother and a sister. Marcella leaves her husband Gareth, of Bonners Ferry, and her daughters, Katie White of Kennewick, WA, Melanie Newton of Post Falls, and her son, Gareth II of Coeur D'Alene. Katie and her husband Mike White gave Marcella a wonderful granddaughter Amanda. Melanie and her husband Jon Newton gave her two grandsons, Tyler and Kyle. Gareth II and his wife Jenny have two beautiful children, Riley and Kara. Two other young men have adopted Marcella as a mother and she loved them as she did her own children. Mike Tritt and his wife Lisette with their daughter Sofia call Marcella mom and grandma. Mike is currently stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. Robert Lee Nelson and his wife Laura Lee also chose her as a mother. They have three children Shyanne, Hunter, and Mackenzy of Post Falls. Marcella also leaves her mother, Edna Mae Elston, sister, Helen Fuqua, and brother Marion Elston, all of Florida. There are too many cousins, nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces to list. She loved them unconditionally. As a teacher, she worked with many children, and as a person she affected thousands of people by her example and her life. She made the world a better place and she will be missed.