Leola Edith Rourke

Leola Edith (Pete) Gibson Rourke Dec. 24, 1919 - May 30, 2011 Leola Edith (Pete) Gibson Rourke, 91, died Monday, May 30, 2011, at Friendsview Retirement Community, Newberg, Oregon, of natural causes after a long struggle with Alzheimers disease. Leola was born December 24, 1919, in her grandparents' sod house at Eudell, Custer Co., Nebraska. She married Joseph William (Joe) Rourke on January 19, 1938 in Boise, Idaho. He preceeded her in death April 19, 2006. They were parents of eight children: Myrna Lea (Frank) Tuning of Wilder, ID; Joseph William [Bill], Jr. (Myrlene) of Newberg, OR; Michael Eugene (Connie) of DeSoto, MO; Maurine Louise (Butch) Freeman of Eagle, ID; Stanley Craig (Beckey) of Boise, ID; John Edmund (Lisa) of Wilder, ID; Dennis Steven of Boise, ID; and Robin Christine Fritts of The Dalles, OR. Joe and Leola lived in Boise, Idaho from 1938 until December, 1991, when they moved to Friendsview . Leola was a homemaker, and worked in the Greenleaf Friends Academy office while Dennis and Robin were students there. She was a very active member of Whitney Friends Chuch, and attended North Valley and Newberg Friends Churches in Newberg. Leola had a beautiful voice and music was always an important part of her life.. In High School she received an excellent rating in Nebraska state competition for vocal solo and ensemble work, and for many years she had junior and adult choirs at Whitney. In spite of her severe memory loss issues, several of her family were blessed Mother's Day because she could still sing hymns right along with them. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert Alphonso Gibson and Coila Ethel Donelson Gibson, infant son Brian Dean, sister Fern Viola Meston Speer; brothers Adrian Deforest (Bud) Meston, Elmer Deloise Meston, Orvis Milton Meston, and Kenneth E. (Hoot) Gibson. She is survived by sister-in-law Helen Rourke Gibson of Meridian, eight children, twenty grandchildren, thirty-four.great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and best friend Hazel Lanham of Boise. Memorial services will be Friday, June 3rd, 1 p.m. at Whitney Friends Church in Boise. Burial will be at Cloverdale Cemetery in Boise. Attrell's Funeral Home, Newberg, Oregon is in charge of arrangements. The family requests memorials be given to Greenleaf Friends Academy, Greenleaf, ID, in lieu of flowers.