Shelia Vonderharr passed away April 16, 2011, in the peaceful surroundings of their beautiful home on Cedar Mountain north of Coeur d'Alene. Born in Bakersfield, Calif., on Jan. 23, 1949, Sheila was the daughter of Connie Mack "Red" Thomas and Carolyn Thomas (Robles).

Sheila grew up in rural Bakersfield attending Lakeside School District and South High School. Sheila was an independent woman who truly did it "her" way. Working as a teenage mother, Sheila became a paralegal at O'Melveny & Myers' law firm in Los Angeles, Calif. She would later go on to graduate from California State University Bakersfield.

After graduating Sheila began working as a safety analyst for Occidental Petroleum and teaching at Bakersfield College. Back in Bakersfield Sheila met and married Eugene Vonderharr and they opened All Seasons Air Conditioning merging her corporate experience and Eugene's technical expertise. The pair grew the company from early days of a single employee to an enterprise that had a working family of more than 25.

Sheila retired as the president of the contracting business in 2007 and never to be one who sat still she began a second career by going to Law School at Gonzaga University. She received her Juris Doctorate degree and was studying for the bar exam when she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. Sheila's story came to the attention of the Idaho State Supreme Court and she was given an honorary membership to the Idaho State Bar Association. Sheila had been active in CASA while attending and after graduation from law school. Her law practice was going to concentrate on elder law and child advocacy.

Sheila's creative talents found an outlet through the joys of quilting with her group of Ladies & Friends at Sprit Country Quilters in North Idaho. Even as she battled cancer she continued to spend time at the family home quilting and playing her piano looking out on the beautiful wooded landscape of North Idaho.

Sheila will be missed dearly as she truly was a source of inspiration, strength and support to her family and friends.

Sheila is survived by her mother, Carolyn; husband Eugene of 32 years; son Damian Vonderharr; son Robert Hudson and wife Stacey with grandchildren Andrew Hudson, Brandon Shamblin and wife Louise with children Jillian and Auria; granddaughter Jamie Barta married to Jason with child Ava; sister Deborah Thomas; brother John Thomas and half brothers, Paul, Michael and Samuel Thomas; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of her family.

Sheila's family would like to extend their gratitude and thanks to the highly skilled medical, neurological and oncology staffs of Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, to Hospice of North Idaho and to all of the unbelievable support received from neighbors and friends in the community over the past weeks, months and years.

At Sheila's request there will not be services. Her wish is that everyone embraces the challenges before them, follow your dreams wherever they lead you and never ever give up!