Thelma Eileen Lewis, beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother and friend passed away peacefully on December 14, 2020 of natural causes.
Eileen was born January 15, 1937 in Boise, Idaho to William Ralph and Mary Gladys Marsh. Born on a cold winter morning in her family home located in the north end near Camel’s Back Park in a long-ago small Boise of about 20,000 people. She adored the two-bedroom family home where she grew up with her large family of brothers and sisters. She said, “We told stories and had pillow fights and now have wonderful memories. She had memories of playing hide and seek when her Dad would come home from work – always hiding behind the old washing machine, and her Dad always acting surprised to find her there. Her Mom and Dad would wrap her up on cold nights in flannel blankets heated from the pot-bellied stove and carry her to bed. She grew up in a home of love. One of her fond memories was of the outhouse in the backyard with an actual flushing toilet – uptown for sure. She attended Washington Grade School which she would often roller skate to or walk or run which was their only mode of transportation. They did not have gas during the second world war, so their car was on blocks in the yard where it magically became an airplane or tank in their kid’s world. The big fenders were even removed and became sleds on Camel’s Back. She had memories of their “Mom and Pop” store a few houses away where Mr. Dorey would give her a piece of candy for a popsicle stick.
Later she attended North Junior High School and then later still Boise High School when it was the only High School in town. She met a freckle faced boy in 1953 named Ron Lewis who worked at Albertson grocery store. He would give her an extra-large ice cream cone and that little trick worked – she kept coming back. After a flirt or two dating started, and they were off to drive-ins in Ron’s purple 1949 Chevy club coupe with Pat Boone singing on the radio. Eileen and Ron were married two weeks after her graduation in June of 1955. She said they grew up together and have had a love affair for the next 65 years. They had 3 children – Randy (Connie) Lewis, Cindy (Jeff) Wilson and Robert (Mary) Lewis who felt the luckiest of children growing up with a pair so completely in love. She gave back to her children the same home of love and magical childhood that she had received.
Ron and Eileen now have 11 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren all who adore and love them and who will miss their grandma with a deep loss but rich with beautiful memories. After grandkids would visit, Eileen would not clean her windows of their smudgy hand and fingerprints so she could remember their visits. Her grandchildren will always remember those beautiful blue eyes that shined with love and kindness to each of them – Eileen left her fingerprints on their hearts. Eileen had an artistic eye and hand that could create beautiful things – paintings, crafts and decorations to which she shared with loved ones. She loved family history and left her family with great treasures of the past. Eileen’s beloved living brothers and sisters are Lavar (Carolyn) Marsh, Dennis (Virginia) Marsh, Joe (Jeneil) Vitley, Linda (Steve) Anderson, and Steve (Judy) Marsh.
Deceased siblings Don Marsh and Lavon Rivers. Eileen has many dear friends whom she opened her arms to and cherished. She had an abiding love for her Savior and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to which she served faithfully through her life.
Eileen will be missed by many whose love for her will pass with her into the eternities.
Private family services will be held, 11:00 am, Friday, December 18, 2020. Due to COVID-19, numbers will be limited at the services, to view the service virtually please follow the link below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85351845674?pwd=SUdWRkN4MlJTdEZXR0VQcDkyZ0RPdz09
A committal service will take place immediately following at Dry Creek Cemetery.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h8ZrE-jeSEFD4v7WFoOSi_93DhE75Zz7/view
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