Donald Eugene Akins, 49
Donald Eugene Akins died Aug. 10, 2010, at his home in Grangeville.
He was born Nov. 21, 1960, to Charles and Donna Akins in Yakima, Wash.
He met and later married the love of his life, Leta Jean Lytle, Aug. 22, 1981, in Grangeville at The Church of God. He worked at Hillcrest Farms and Copperhood Pizza in Grangeville, Hoot's Cafe in White Bird, and Carlson sheep ranch in Riggins. He loved the outdoors and especially fishing and hunting.
He is survived by his wife, Leta, and their children, Charles of Grangeville and Desire'e of Laredo, Texas, and his adopted daughter, Alyssa Cummins of Yucaiph, Calif. In addition, he is survived by Leta's parents, Floyd and Carolyn Lytle, his sister-in-law, Judy Snow, and her family. He is also survived by his parents, Charles and Donna Akins; his stepmother, Lois Akins; his brothers, Frank and Michael; and his sisters, Sue, Lori, Sheila and Carol, along with their families; also, his two special dogs.
Services were Saturday, Aug. 14, at The Church of God (The Hub), and officiating was Pastor Rick Payton and missionaries, Kevin and Judy Snow.
Donations for the family may be made at Pine Tree Credit Union.
Janice B. Ison Swift, 65
Janice B. Ison Swift, 65, of Lewiston, Idaho, died Aug. 14, 2010, after a three-year battle with breast cancer.
She was born Sept. 3, 1944, in Portsmouth, Va., to Claude and Mary Lee Ison, the oldest of three children. The family lived in Virginia and Ohio before settling in Arizona in 1948. She graduated from West High in Phoenix, Ariz., in 1962.
After graduation she moved to Pinetop, Ariz., where she met and later married the love of her life, Gene Swift. When she married him, she became instant mom to three children (Randy, Carla and Kathleen) and later added three more (Sherry, Julie and Laurie) to complete their family. Through the years they followed his logging career to multiple small towns across Arizona, Utah and Idaho, finally settling in Riggins, Idaho, in 1975, making it their home for 15 years.
While in Riggins, she selflessly raised her family, spending much of her time in the stands at Salmon River High School, cheering on her children, and sometimes her husband, in basketball, volleyball, track, cheerleading and in school talent shows. She also volunteered for the Riggins Library and the American Red Cross. In 1983, they suffered the loss of their oldest daughter, Sherry.
After their children were raised, they moved to Lewiston in 1989 where she lived until the time of her death. Following the death of a second daughter, Julie, in 1993, she devoted herself to raising her two granddaughters for the next six years and later continued her tradition of cheering for them in the stands at basketball games in Grangeville.
Through the years, she was "mom" to not only her six children but to countless other children who came through their home, playing a significant role in each of their lives. She clothed, fed and loved every one of them, whether they stayed for an afternoon or for a year, and loved every bit of it. She was most in her element when nurturing and caring for others with her selfless gifts of love, patience and understanding. She spent her life teaching all of us lessons in her quiet unassuming manner by simply being who she was. Through the many difficult struggles in her life, when she could have easily shown us defeat and anger, she instead taught us strength, kindness, faith and grace. Embracing what she was is how we can best honor her life. And though she will be greatly missed by all of us, we are rejoicing in her reunion with Sherry and Julie.
She is survived by her best friend and loving husband of 45 years, Gene; her children, Laurie and Darren Anglen of Meridian, Randy and Shelly Swift of Kendrick, Carla and John Render of Rathdrum, and Kathleen and Jay Elwood of Glendale, Ariz.; her grandchildren, Brittany and Kia Frost, Jordan and Emily Anglen, Shannon Sam, Justin, Jed, Sarah and Sonia Swift, Eric and Jason Chase, Ashley, James and Emily Elwood; her mother, Mary Lee Ison of Lewiston; two brothers, Dan (Brinda) Ison of Clarkston, Wash., and David (Ruby) Ison of Indio, Calif.; her grandmother, Elsie Ison of Portsmouth, Ohio; and 10 and 7/9 great-grandchildren and a large and loving extended family.
She was preceded in death by her daughters, Sherry Lee Swift and Julie Carol Swift Frost; her father, Claude Ison; and her nephew, Scott Ison.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. (MST) in Riggins, at the Salmon River High School multipurpose gym. A private graveside service for family will be held at a later date.
They ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to the Salmon River High School athletic program, Riggins, in honor of all the years of enjoyment that program gave to her family, or to a charity of your choice in her name.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mountain View Funeral Home, Lewiston.
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