Rachel Carry

Rachel C. Cary, 96 years old, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at Tri-State Memorial Hospital in Clarkston, with family at her side.

She was born July 31, 1918, in Berg, N.D., to Ed and Hilda Dailey. Through many hardships, Rachel grew to be strong and determined, full of a true pioneer spirit. Following a devastating May blizzard that destroyed their livelihood, the family moved from Berg to Priest River, Idaho, in 1927. The Priest River homestead was destroyed by forest fire in August 1931 just days after her 13th birthday. Rachel and her family survived by seeking refuge buried in the soil of the garden next to the creek as the fire raged over them.

She graduated from the eighth grade at the Priest River Settlement School in 1934. She married Richard Cary on Nov. 23, 1939, and they had one daughter and four sons. She worked tirelessly as a homemaker and passed her determination and work ethic on to her family. She was active in the Peninsula Ladies Club, was a 4-H leader for many years and played host to many family get-togethers. At the age of 61, she began work as a cook and waitress at the Oldtown, Idaho, bowling lanes. In 1996, she moved to Sequim, Wash., near two of her children, and to Clarkston in 2009, where she moved into a mother-in-law apartment in her daughter's home. She enjoyed excellent health most of her long life, and remained active visiting family, gardening and playing fetch with her beloved dog, Nellie.

Rachel was preceded in death by husband Richard Cary; and brothers Lemuel (Maxine), Gale (Val), Harold (Wanda) and Walter (Doris); sister Flora (Grant Cary); and grandson Donald Cary.

She is survived by brother Lawrence (Darlene, deceased) of Priest River; daughter Carolina (Sam Lachmann) of Clarkston; sons Claude (Camilla) Cary, Tim (Cheryl) Cary and Jim (Jan) Cary of Priest River, and Wayne (Candy) Cary of Kingston, Wash. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

Two local granddaughters are Christy (Steve) Bradbury and family of Orofino, and Kim (Nick) Belanger and family of Clarkston.

In lieu of a funeral, there will be a memorial Aug. 1 in Priest River for family and friends. She will be remembered by us all for her physical strength, incredible determination, and unfailing pioneer spirit.

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