Eleanor Powe

2/3/1922 — 4/12/2015

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Lifelong Lewiston resident Eleanor Powe passed away Sunday, April 12, 2015, at Life Care of Lewiston, following an extended battle with Alzheimer's disease. It is a testament to her loving nature that she remained sweet and happy until she peacefully went to sleep.

She was born Feb. 23, 1922, in Lewiston, to Elsie and Thomas Lukens, the younger sister to her beloved brothers, Harold and Donald. Eleanor learned to knit and sew at an early age, and as an adult she became a master of the textile arts, weaving, spinning and knitting beautiful and intricate works of art.

She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1940, just as World War II was in full swing. In 1944, she accompanied her best friend, Pat Weldon, to San Francisco, as Pat's husband, Eleanor's cousin Dale, was going to have a three-day leave from the U.S. Navy. As Mom told the story, she and Pat were waiting in a San Francisco restaurant for Dale and his best friend Tex, who they hadn't met, to arrive, when Mom saw the "most beautiful curly-haired man" she'd ever seen come in, dressed in his Navy blues and following her cousin Dale. The four of them spent a wonderful three days in San Francisco, and as their brief time together came to a close, Tex asked Eleanor to marry him. Mom said she was sure he had to be kidding and responded by laughing. Eleanor and Pat returned to Lewiston and Eleanor began writing letters to the handsome young sailor with the Southern accent; she was surprised several months later when she received a letter from Tex saying, "You thought I was kidding when I asked you to marry me didn't you? Well, I wasn't kidding, I meant it." Mom wasted no time letting Tex know that her answer was yes. They corresponded through letters until Eleanor and Pat traveled again to San Francisco in August 1945, and mom and dad were married the day after victory was declared.

Eleanor and Tex returned to Lewiston, where she worked as a teller at Idaho First Bank and he began his career at Potlatch Forests Inc. Mom and Dad were happy and deeply in love, and they moved in with mom's parents so they could begin building their home on 16th Avenue in Lewiston in 1950. They built their dream home together after work and on weekends, and it was finally completed in 1952.

In 1955, their daughter and only child, Vicki, was born. What a blessing to be raised by two people who loved each other and their child so much. Mom continued her love of knitting and opened a yarn shop in 1961. She taught many generations of knitters how to knit. Our home was a happy place, filled with love and laughter as well as dogs and cats, another great passion of Mom's. I can recall her staying up all night to bottle-feed kittens. Mom rescued dogs and cats through the years and gave her dog, Benny, daily insulin shots for years after he was diagnosed with diabetes.

In 1974, after 29 years of marriage, Tex was diagnosed with bone cancer, and his death at age 50 was the saddest day of my mother's life. She grieved the loss of him deeply, but it was not her style to give up on life. Mom continued to develop her textile skills and became a very accomplished spinner and weaver. She would buy raw wool, dye it and spin it into yarn and knit sweaters and weave blankets. Nordstrom's expressed interest in selling Mom's one-of-a-kind, hand-knit sweaters, and she considered it, but ultimately decided that she didn't want her creations to become a business instead of a work of love and she said no. Many of Mom's lovely sweaters are treasured by those of us lucky enough to receive them, and they will be cherished always.

Mom met Don Powe through Parents Without Partners and they were married in 1978. They enjoyed square dancing and remained in the 16th Avenue house until December 2011, when they moved to Serenity Place Assisted Living in Lewiston. Don passed away in February 2012, and Mom continued to live at Serenity Place until December 2014, when her health made a move to Life Care necessary.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Harold and Donald.

She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Donovan, son-in-law Steve Donovan and grandson Andrew Donovan.

The family would like to express its gratitude to Serenity Place and Life Care of Lewiston for their compassionate care of Eleanor. Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home is handling the arrangements, and burial will be at Normal Hill Cemetery. Please make any donations to Helping Hands Animal Rescue. Online condolences may be posted at www.malcomsfuneralhome.com.

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