Alice Marie Howarth Marchand Boyer Tanner passed away peacefully Dec. 21, 2011. Alice was born Aug. 10, 1916, in Orient, Wash., to James L. Howarth and Sophia Bailey Howarth. The oldest of five children she had two brothers, Jim and Robert and two sisters, Christine and Betty. 

Alice started out young as a caregiver, as her father left the family when Betty was a baby. Alice now had a real life doll, her new baby sister Betty, to care for. She attended school in Marcus, Wash., and also at the boarding school in DeSmet. She told stories of how the nuns would punish the students if they were caught speaking their native dialects amongst themselves.

At the age of 16 she married Louie Marchand in February 1933. Their marriage lasted 17 years and they had five children, Clarence (Butch) (deceased), Merceline (Dale) Roske (both deceased), Jeni (Leonard) Nichols-Kjos of Yuma, Ariz., and Malo, Wash., Karen (Larry) Mills of Coeur d'Alene and Joe (Linda) Marchand of Kent, Wash.

Alice then married Roy Boyer Sr. and moved to Coeur d'Alene with the four younger children to start a new life. During these years Roy wanted a leather coat made out of an Elk he had shot, so Alice, a talented seamstress, asked to work with Eben Wolters who had a taxidermist and leather shop in the Fort Grounds in Coeur d'Alene. Here she learned how to sew just about anything that could be worn made out of leather. Alice also loved to go hunting with Roy and shot her own deer and a bobcat.

Over the years she decided that she still needed a vocation that she wanted to call her own. And that calling was nursing. She enrolled in nursing classes at Spokane Community College and graduated in 1964. She was now a L.P.N. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Kootenai Memorial Hospital, Pinewood and LaCrosse nursing homes in Coeur d'Alene.

Alice enjoyed being a member of the Coeur d'Alene Eagles Auxiliary No. 486 and she was Madam President in 1979-1980. Alice and Roy enjoyed going to the many activities and conventions associated with the Eagles Auxiliary and being with Eagles friends.

In September 1978 Roy Boyer Sr. passed away. During this time she returned back to her leather abilities to make ends meet and supplement her income. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends. Then she met Dick Tanner, where, but at the Eagles Club. They were together about 20 years and married in 1993 then Dick passed away in January 2000.

Alice was a member of the Colville Confederated Tribe, Arrow Lake Band, of the state of Washington.

She enjoyed having a large garden to share with friends and canned the abundance for the winter. Alice loved Country Music by Hank Snow and all the old great singers.

She leaves a legacy of 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, three husbands, her sisters and brothers and son Clarence (Butch) in 1981 and daughter Merceline in 1990 and grandson Clarence Anthony "Peanuts" in 1978.

Private family memorial graveside services will be held at a later date at Pia Mission, Kelly Hill, Wash.

A special THANK YOU to the Coeur d'Alene Homes and Sylvan House for the loving care they gave Alice. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer's Association of Spokane, Inland Northwest, 910 West Fifth Ave., Suite 256, Spokane, WA 99204 or Coeur d'Alene Homes, 624 West Harrison Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, has been entrusted with the final arrangements. Please sign Alice's guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.