Gayle Horton

3/17/1935 — 3/30/2014

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Gayle Dolores Kress died March 30, 2014, at Life Care Center of Lewiston. Gayle was born March 17, 1935, in Lewiston, to Donald and Gladys Greer Kress. She attended Lewiston High School and graduated in 1953.

As a young girl, she enjoyed working with Grandma Carter at her fruit stand at Hatwai Gardens, hanging out with her Aunt Allane and trick horseback riding. Her mom always said she would not look outside when she was standing on a horse at a full gallop. She wanted to pursue her dream of a horse career, but she decided on a career in nursing. She attended Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Spokane, and graduated in 1956.

Gayle met the love of her life, Clarence Powell, while in nursing school and Clarence was serving in the U.S. Air Force in Spokane. They married at the Clarkston Presbyterian Church in 1955. They moved to Ashville, N.C., with their daughter, Diana, who was born Dec. 19, 1956, for a few years so Clarence could finish his education at a small medical school. She worked at Haywood County Hospital there for two years. Clarence loved Idaho, and they decided to move back to the Lewiston-Clarkston area, settling in Clarkston. Gayle worked for St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Tri-State Memorial Hospital, and Clarence was employed by Potlatch Corp. for a few years until his death from a heart condition on Sept. 17, 1959.

Gayle met Dave Dennler, and they were married at the Lutheran Church in Juliaetta in 1960. They had a son, David Alan Dennler, who was born Sept. 17, 1962.

She moved to Troy to start a new life with her children in 1974. There she met Ray Hoar, and they were married in 1974.

Gayle worked really hard at farm life, being a mother, cook and a truck driver as well - being photographed by the Lewiston Morning Tribune - and business owner until a stroke in 1996.

Gayle is survived by a daughter, Diana Arnett and husband Rick of Kendrick; granddaughter Michelle Poechmann; great-grandchildren Stephanie Burau, Ashley Poechmann and David Poechmann, all of Moscow; grandson Jeffery Arnett and wife Pennie Arnett; and great-grandchildren Britni Venziano and Damyen Arnett, all of Kamiah. Gayle was preceded in death by her son, David Alan Dennler; and her parents, Donald and Gladys Kress.

Viewing will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home. A private family burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Normal Hill Cemetery in Lewiston, with services to follow at 11 a.m. at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral home, located at 1711 18th St., Lewiston.

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