Obituary of Willa Dean Grant
Willa Dean Grant
October 17, 1935 – October 30, 2023
Boise, Idaho
Our much-loved mom, Willa Dean, went to be with her Lord Jesus on October 30, 2023, at home with her daughter Frances by her side.
Willa was born in Gordo, Alabama and moved to Boise with her mother and grandmother and her uncle Doc Hanna when she was 2 years old. Mom attended Roosevelt Elementary, North Jr. High and graduated from Boise High. She enjoyed getting together with this group which included her grade school friend, Judy Babbitt.
Our mom was described as an extraordinary and very remarkable woman, and as we think about it, she truly was. She was a force to be reckoned with and if she couldn’t do a task or fix something on her own, she’d ask for help. Okay she didn’t. Mom worked hard and taught us to do the same.
She held several jobs in her life, Lerner’s, Lucky Peak Tree Farm, Birdseye, and Blue Cross of Idaho to name a few. Later, she worked with the ARC in a group home, teaching the young adults to cook, sew and grocery shop. She worked in several childcare facilities and was so ecstatic when she received graduation and wedding announcements from them ALL. Teaching is what she loved to do.
Being a nurse was always something she had wanted to accomplish, and she did. She attended BSU’s college of technology in 1994 completing her Nursing Assistant Training and later completed the Certified Nursing program. She also completed a Continuing Education course through the University of Washington which enabled her to work as an Adolescent Counselor in 1985.
Our Mom had so many talents, joys, and loves. She loved the Lord and shared his word and prayed for everyone. She taught Sunday school to kids for many years and her love embraced each one as if they were her own. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and always wanted the best for each of us.
She was a seamstress, quilter, fabric collector, pattern collector. She’d say, “All the others [ladies] at the Quilt Crossing, collect fabric”; so, this made her collection okay. Hum?
She was a creative artist, taking art classes in watercolor, oils, and acrylics. She also started teaching the folk art of decorative painting; Tole’ and Rosemaling, in her home under her business name, ‘Daisy’s with Love’.
She was a proud member, for several years, of the Idaho Chapter Of Heritage Artists, and was one of many who were fortunate to take classes from Russian artist Misha. He traveled to the U.S. and taught the old Russian folk handicraft painting technique called Zhostovo. Many of her works display this technique. She loved getting together with her artist friends to create. Thank you, Carol, Gesele, Bobbie, Tana, and Laneal for getting her to the many events. Flowers were another source of enjoyment for her. She could bring any flower back to life and would sit for hours watching her hummingbirds.
Mom had a love for music. She played the cello and violin, but her true love was singing. She had a voice. She was on cloud nine when she auditioned and was asked to join and sing with the Whitney Women’s Chorale. Willa said it was, “A life of happiness for me”. The choir ‘toured’ to many locations, in the US, but the best time ever for our mom was when she traveled to Ireland,
Wales, and England (and Dublin) where the Chorale competed in the Welsh National. She’d say – “I’m going to tour across the lake.” Mom it’s pond. Laughter erupted.
Willa was a charmer, stubborn, sassy, and said what was on her mind; and she was so loved for being her.
She lived in the same home for over fifty (50) years, as well as her neighbor Ms. Shirley Schmidt they dubbed themselves the Royals of North 23rd. Shirley, Thank you for being a great neighbor and friend to our mom. She loved you.
Special thanks to: Dr. Zachary Benson and his team at St., Luke’s Cancer Institute, Dr. Karen East, C. Boulton, Jensen Phillips and the staff at St Lukes Clinic, and to Cassie, mom’s Hospice care Nurse with Bluebird.
We also like to thank Karen Martin, Illusions Salon, for always keeping Willa looking her best.
Big thank you to her Discovery Church Family. For giving her spiritual comfort, friendship, and unwavering support. Thank you to Melisa (Kip) for being the ‘phone tree’ sending out messages keeping the congregation informed and sending help her way and for especially ignoring her “I’m Fine”.
We would like to thank her fabulous (new) neighbors, Ken, Lee and Susie, and many great friends, that also helped our mom when she’d send out her rare SOS. Bryan, we can’t thank you enough for making the occasional drive by to check on her…. and fixing something and helping keeping her lawn looking nice.
She was preceded in death by her mother Johnnie Stokes, her sisters, Jo-Doris Stokes and Ardella Luke-Williams, and her daughter Ina Grant.
Willa is survived by her sons: Jesse (Teresa) Grant, Kevin Grant, daughters; Evelyn (Terry) McAdams, Frances Thomas, and niece, Sabrina Stokes. Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, Monica (Marc) Ridenour, Harper, Beckett; Kendra Grant, Rachel Dickerson, Pattrick (Jessica) Scrivner, Quincy, and Anaiya; Cameron (Sariah) Grant, Isaiah, Lilliana, Bear; Queana Grant, Kaliesha Grant, McKenna Grant, Kamiah Dix, Amaad Dix, and Ay’den Armstrong.
Mom, we will think of you always and smile – and laugh out loud when we think of your funny sayings and mis-pronouncing Richard Dreyfus' name.
We will miss you -
Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strong hold of my Life ~ of whom shall I be afraid?”
Services will be held at Discovery Church on November 15th, 2023 at 1pm located at 1177 N Roosevelt St. Boise, ID 83706 with inurnment to follow at Morris Hill Cemetery.
Please forward all floral arrangements for the family to Summers Funeral Home 3629 E Ustick Rd. Meridian, Idaho 83646 (208) 898 0642
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