Lorelei Anne Scarlett

Lorelei Anne (Hawkes) Scarlett was born on September 10, 1942, at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise, Idaho, to Warren Clarence Hawkes and Laura May (Will) Hawkes. In 1944, her little sister, Marilee Sue, was born to complete their family. Lorelei grew up in the North End and attended school at Washington Elementary, North Junior High, and Boise High School. While in high school, she worked at Hawkins Pac-Out on the corner of Harrison Boulevard and Hill Road. She also enjoyed cruising downtown and driving out to Howdy Pardner’s. It was during high school that she met the love of her life, Gary Olin Scarlett. She graduated from Boise High in 1960. She was a proud Brave, as her mother, sister, husband, and all her children also graduated from Boise High.

After graduation, Lorelei briefly attended Boise Junior College before getting married to Gary Scarlett on February 25, 1961. After their wedding, Gary and Lorelei moved to Walla Walla, Washington, for Gary’s job. They later moved to Madras, Oregon, and then to Corvallis, Oregon, as Gary pursued his career and education. The couple eventually moved to Longview, Washington, where, in 1965, they welcomed a son, Cameron. Soon after, Gary received a job offer in Boise, and they were able to move back to their hometown. In 1970, they welcomed a daughter, Desiree, followed by another daughter, Danielle, in 1971. Lorelei and Gary purchased a lot on Warm Springs Mesa and built a home in which to raise their children. Lorelei loved being a mother to her three children. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, and being involved in all her children’s activities. Lorelei was a leader for Danielle’s Brownies troop where her fun and outgoing personality resulted in many exciting adventures. She also supported Desiree’s competitive gymnastics teams for many years, where Lorelei helped with every aspect of running competitive meets, as well as assisting with the booster club. She made lifelong friends during these endeavors. She also volunteered at Adams Elementary for several years where her compassion and understanding had an impact on many lives. Lorelei valued education and encouraged her children to do well in school. She spent many evenings proofreading papers and helping with homework (as long as it wasn’t chemistry!). Lorelei was an amazing mother, friend, and mentor. As a native Idahoan, Lorelei had a keen interest and love for Idaho and its history. During her childhood, she and her family spent many summer vacations in McCall and around Payette Lake. As an adult, Lorelei and Gary enjoyed taking their kids and dogs on day trips into the mountains and wilderness areas surrounding Boise. It was always an adventure, traveling the back roads and experiencing everything that Idaho has to offer. Lorelei especially liked to visit Silver City and Atlanta, so she could tell her children and grandchildren stories about her ancestors' experiences in those places. She enjoyed reading books that explored Idaho’s past, whether it was about Boise or any other area in Idaho. Her knowledge and understanding of Idaho’s history resulted in her children and grandchildren coming to her for help with their various 4th grade Idaho history projects. Lorelei was proud of her Idaho heritage, and her enthusiasm for history was contagious to those around her.

Lorelei was an avid reader throughout her life. Whether it was a mystery, biography, or historical novel, Lorelei always had a book with her. The moment she finished one book, she started another. She also enjoyed completing the daily crossword puzzles in the newspaper. She could answer many of the questions on Jeopardy!, and it was one of her favorite shows to watch. Whenever a board game involving trivia was played, everyone wanted to be on her team! She was so incredibly smart and will be remembered for her quick wit and sense of humor.

 One of Lorelei's favorite pastimes was working on family genealogy. She spent many hours researching and compiling family histories dating back several centuries. She knew names, dates, and events off the top of her head. Nearly every family vacation itinerary was planned around stops of genealogical importance and usually consisted of visiting a cemetery or two, whether it was in Nebraska or a faraway place such as Germany. She also reached out and collaborated with many distant relatives that were also working on family genealogy. Lorelei and Gary had ancestors that hailed from countries such as England, Germany, Ireland, and Sweden, eventually immigrating to the United States. Lorelei enjoyed sharing stories about her relatives, such as the incredible journey of her Swedish great-great-grandmother pushing a handcart from Iowa all the way to the Salt Lake Valley. Another account was that her great-great-grandfather, Thomas Sharratt Smart, founded the town of Franklin, the first white settlement in Idaho (although he thought they were in Utah!). She also enjoyed talking about how her relatives traveled by stagecoach to and from Silver City when it was a booming mining town. She admired the strength and perseverance of her pioneering ancestors. Lorelei was able to bring history to life in ways that made it interesting and exciting for everyone around her. Her genealogy research uncovered more than just names and dates, but rather painted vivid pictures of the lives, hardships, and experiences of real-life people. 

One of Lorelei’s most inspiring traits was her love of animals. She rescued and adopted a multitude of cats and dogs during her lifetime. She was unable to turn away a stray, so there was never a shortage of family pets. During the 1970’s, Lorelei and Gary acquired two Afghan Hounds, one of which was a severely injured rescue animal that they nursed back to health. For decades, Lorelei and Gary also had a double yellow-headed Amazon parrot named Sinbad (who sang, swore, and danced). After his death, they eventually adopted a similar parrot named Peco. Any wild animals that visited her house, whether birds, squirrels, skunks, or even raccoons, were also well-fed and taken care of. It wasn’t uncommon to enter their garage and encounter a skunk dining on a meal of dry cat food! Likewise, Lorelei was adamant that any spiders, which had made their way into the house, were either to be left alone or else carefully transported back outside. Lorelei demonstrated true devotion and kindness to all creatures and animals, a legacy she lovingly passed down to her children and grandchildren.

One of Lorelei's greatest gifts was her ability to welcome anyone into her home. She loved having everyone over for the holidays. She enjoyed hosting small or large family get-togethers, and she was always willing to have school or team parties at her house. She offered up her home and basement many times to friends or family needing a place to stay. She enjoyed visiting with people and never seemed to tire from having extra guests. Lorelei will be remembered for her generosity and for the never-ending love and laughter that filled her home.

During the 70’s and 80’s, Lorelei and Gary were members of the Bronco Athletic Association and enjoyed going to all the BSU football and basketball games. They were season ticket holders for several years and enjoyed tailgating and attending games with friends and family. Even after they stopped attending the games in person, Lorelei loved to watch the Boise State games on television.

In 1984, Lorelei and Gary opened up a gymnastics training facility in Nampa, Idaho, called World of Gymnastics. They owned and operated the business until 1999. Lorelei was there nearly every day during those 15 years as she conducted business, answered phones, did the books, and taught classes. For years, she packed up gym equipment and drove out to elementary schools in places like Notus, Adrian, and Parma, to teach classes so that the children in those places could learn gymnastics. She took pride in running the gym and thoroughly enjoyed watching the gymnasts improve and compete at all levels. She became close friends with her employees as well as with the families of many of the girls that competed for World of Gymnastics. She also became involved in a rescue program for stray cats in downtown Nampa during her time at that location. She assisted in feeding the cats and taking them in to get spayed/neutered. She also personally adopted a litter of “wild” kittens and brought them to her home. As a business owner, Lorelei will be remembered for the positive impact she had on many lives as well as for her contributions to the community.

Lorelei loved to travel both domestically and abroad. While their kids were growing up, Lorelei and Gary took their family on many trips. The green conversion van that Gary designed and built, complete with a mini-fridge and fold-down bed, traveled thousands of miles, including trips to the Oregon Coast, one cross-country trek to the East Coast and back, as well as many road trips around Idaho and neighboring states to go to their daughter’s gymnastics meets. Lorelei and Gary also went on several motorcycle trips around the Pacific Northwest and Canada. As their children moved from Boise or were away at college, Lorelei and Gary enjoyed taking road trips to visit them. Their preferable mode of transportation for these trips was a minivan accompanied with their dogs. In the summer of 1990, they had an opportunity to visit Germany following the fall of the Berlin Wall. This trip was the first of several European vacations in which Lorelei and Gary and their family and friends were able to visit countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Russia. Her love of history and culture made these trips so interesting, fun, and memorable.

In the 1990’s, Lorelei and Gary became involved with the German-American Edelweiss Club. They were active members for many years, and Lorelei was the president of the club for a few years. She took some German classes at Boise State in order to learn to write and speak the language. She enjoyed connecting with all the members and exchanging stories of their German experiences. One year, when the club wasn’t able to find a venue, Lorelei and Gary even hosted a Facshing party at their house, and everyone had so much fun!

Just as Lorelei loved being a mom, she also loved being a grandma. Her grandkids affectionately referred to her as “grandma on the hill” because of the location of her home on Warm Springs Mesa. They enjoyed spending time with her as babies, toddlers, teenagers, and adults. She cheered them on at their various sporting events and attended their recitals, music programs, and graduations. During the summers, swimming in grandma and grandpa’s pool was a favorite activity for her grandchildren and their friends. Lorelei and Gary also enjoyed going to Silver City every year around Lorelei's birthday in September for a picnic with their kids and grandkids. We are grateful that her grandchildren have so many cherished memories of spending time with their Grandma. Lorelei loved her grandchildren with all her heart.

On October 11, 2025, Lorelei passed away peacefully in her sleep at home. Her battle with Alzheimer’s was finally over. She was surrounded by her husband, children, and grandchildren during her final days. Her husband, Gary, lovingly cared for Lorelei for years as her health declined. Lorelei’s granddaughter, Tisha Scarlett, was also a devoted caretaker, spending many long days and nights helping with Lorelei’s care, especially during her final months. The family would also like to thank Ericka, Cassie, and Danny from Keystone Hospice for their kindness. We are grateful that Lorelei was able to stay in her home until her death. We take solace in knowing that Lorelei passed away on her own terms, surrounded by love and compassion in the home that she cherished. We miss her immensely, but we know that her suffering is over. We can only imagine the reunion she is having with all her ancestors, as well as with the multitude of beloved pets that have been waiting to see her again.

Lorelei is survived by her loving husband and partner of 64 years, Gary Scarlett; her son, Cameron (Lori) Scarlett of Madison, Wisconsin; her daughter, Desiree (Chris) Graham of Boise; her daughter, Danielle (Greg) Hardee of Boise; her grandchildren: Caleb, Asher, and Micah Scarlett; Thornton, Fiona, and Keara Graham; Tisha and Madelyn Scarlett; and step-grandchildren, Dutch and Jack Hardee; and her sister, Marilee Voegele of Star, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant son.

There will be Visitation on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 5:00 until 7:00 pm at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 Carlton Bay Drive in Garden City. Graveside services will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Cloverdale Memorial Park, 1200 N. Cloverdale Road in Boise. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Idaho Humane Society in Lorelei’s remembrance.