Deanna Louise Combs

Deanna Louise Combs died in Idaho Falls, Idaho of natural causes April 20, 2022. She lived formerly in Boise, Idaho. She moved to Lincoln Court Assisted Living Center in August 2021. Deanna was born in Idaho Falls on November 19, 1936, to Joseph William Bailey and Maud Johnson as the fifth of seven children. Always an excellent student, she eventually graduated with high honors in English and Secondary Education from Idaho State University.

As a seventeen-year-old high school graduate, Deanna married Jake Ellis on November 2, 1954. She became a loving mom and homemaker to four children within five years, and later they were divorced. Deanna rented rooms to ISU students to help toward monthly house payments. During these years, she became encouraged to return to college herself. As she enjoyed her studies so much, she became an enthusiastic lifelong learner. When she finished her bachelor’s degree, she met her second husband, and moved to her first teaching job in Washington state. She gave birth to her youngest daughter, and this marriage ended in divorce. She taught high school in Yakima, Washington and in Shelley, Idaho. In 1973, she began her federal government career in the U.S. Civil Service Commission and moved her family to Boise, Idaho. After three years, Deanna began working for the U.S. Department of Energy, (DOE) in Idaho Falls. Later, she met and married her third husband, Watie Franklin Combs. Watie adopted Deanna’s youngest daughter (and unofficially all her children and grandchildren) and they moved to the Tri-Cities for Deanna’s work in Richland, WA. They enjoyed wonderful adventures as they traveled, camped, and moved to homes in Idaho Falls and Kennewick, WA. When Deanna retired from federal service in the DOE, she and Watie retired to Nampa, ID and they continued to travel to and with friends and family to several states, including Hawaii, Oregon, Arizona, Oklahoma and beyond. Following Watie’s death, Deanna moved to Garden City and Boise, Idaho where she volunteered as a mediator. She loved other volunteer positions in Boise and Osher classes at Boise State.

Deanna was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her five children, Melinda Powers (Jeff); Nancy Luthy (Roger); Janis Ellis; Jacob D. Ellis (Amy); and Tara Taylor survive her. She leaves behind eighteen grandchildren: and thirty-five great grandchildren. Her two sisters, Helen Remington, and Beth Jenkins, as well as brother David Green, also remain. Deanna’s parents, Joseph Bailey, Maud Green, and Austin Green preceded her in death. The recent loss of a new great granddaughter, Brinley Jarvis, saddened her.

Viewing will be at Eckersell funeral home at 101 West Main St. in Rigby from 11:30a.m.-12:30p.m. Gravesite services held Monday, April 25, 2022, at 1:00p.m. pm at the Ririe Shelton Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers donations in Deanna’s memory toward her charities: Alzheimer’s association, Idaho Special Olympics or the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of Boise State University are welcome.