Roberta Leslie Howell Poole

How do you capture the life of someone so exceptional? You can't, you just tell a story. This is a brief story of my beautiful momma and her incredible spirit and heart.

Born on March 17th, 1959, in Idaho Falls, Idaho to William and Blanche Howell, mom was known to her loved ones as "Berta." Grandpa always talked about the privilege he had of naming my mom. Grandma always joked that he named mom after a woman that worked in the restaurant at the family truck stop. Mom spent her early years working in the family business at Henry's Lake, Idaho. After graduating as valedictorian from North Fremont High School in 1977, she attended Kinman Business University in Spokane, Washington. She spent her career working in the medical field in various capacities, including doctor's offices, medical supplies, and psychiatric clinics. For the last ten years, mom worked as the Complaint Intake Coordinator for the Oregon Board of Nursing. She cherished the relationships she built with her colleagues over the years.

In May of 1983, mom married Kurt Spracher, and they welcomed my brother, Brandon, in December of 1984. Mom and dad divorced in 1989. Mom and Brandon and I spent the next years going on adventures and growing ever closer. On August 25th, 2001, mom married Edward James Poole in Boise, Idaho. They had many adventures together that took them to many places - Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. He remained her companion until her passing.

Mom was known for her selflessness, generosity, and kind heart. She was always there for anyone who needed her, whether it was a ride in the rain or a place to stay. She had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel important and loved. She will always be remembered for her strength, resilience, and unwavering love. Mom was the type of person that you always wanted in your corner. This was just who she was.

In grief, no one tells you that even writing a remembrance of someone like my mom is an impossible hurdle. It's not that one doesn't want to do so, it's about the finality of the moment it is put into the universe. No one loved more or gave more of themselves than my momma. She was my hero, my person. The light dimmed in the world January 29th, 2023 when this remarkable human exited this world from metastatic pancreatic cancer. She fought courageously to remain with her family. Grandpa always said, "It's never goodbye, just so long". We love and miss you, momma!

Mom was reunited with a number of loved ones. She joined her parents - Bill and Blanche Howell, her grandparents - Alton and Leora Howell. She also joined her beloved granddog Ozzy - her best boy. She joins numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She also shared the love of many amazing furbabies.

Mom leaves behind her husband Edward James Poole, both of her children - Angie and Brandon, her granddogs - Darby & Dani, her sister Mary Flygare (Per & Sam), her best friend since childhood- Julieann Skinner (Bob, Hannah, & Brooke), and numerous family and friends. She will be remembered in love by all that she touched. Her legacy lives on through the memories she created with her family and friends.

To honor mom's memory, we request that donations be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in her name. Her legacy will live on through the memories she created with her loved ones and the love that she leaves behind.

http://support.pancan.org/goto/teamroberta

https://pancan.org/