Olive Irene Brougher

1927 - 2025

Nampa - Olive Irene Brougher, 98 of Nampa Idaho, went to be with her beloved Heavenly Father on November 15, 2025

Irene was born in Vancouver, Washington on October 10, 1927, to Henry and Irene Maas. She was the fourth of five children: Maxine, Matthew, Katherine and Henry Jr.

Irene grew up in Vancouver and lived there until she was 70 years old, then moved to Nampa, Idaho to be near family there. She was active and athletic all her life. At 16 she was invited to join the 18 and up women's softball team, Erv Lind Florists of Portland, where she enjoyed traveling the country with the team and in 1944 they won the National Championship in Cleveland. The team was later inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 for this feat.

She graduated from Central Washington University with a teaching degree and later earned her masters in education from Oregon State University. It was several years into her teaching career that she met and married Jim Brougher, also a teacher. They were married for 37 years and had two sons; Jon and Kevin. Jim sadly passed away when he was 64 in 1993.

Irene was an educator and counselor for 30 years in the Vancouver School District with many of those years spent at Columbia River High School. She had a positive impact on so many students who were blessed to have her for a teacher.

In her 30's she picked up a tennis racket and began another sport that she excelled in and did not retire her racket until she was 85. During that long tennis career she won many tournaments and trophies and was a Canadian and U.S national champion in doubles and also earned silver and gold medals in the Senior Olympics all without ever taking a lesson.

Her other lifelong passion and gift was studying and teaching God's Word. She helped to strengthen the understanding of the Bible for so many of her family and friends over the decades of Bible studies all the way up until her death.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents and four siblings and her husband. She is survived by her sons; Jon Brougher and wife Becky of Boise, Idaho and Kevin Brougher and his wife Chelsy of Tucson, Arizona, her four granddaughters Rebekah, Lisa, Amy and Lauren who she adored, along with her four precious great grand-children.

Our deepest thanks to the many doctors, nurses and staff who so compassionately cared for mom including Canyon Hospice and the staff at Karcher Senior Living.

We are honoring Irene's request and will not have a funeral or a memorial.