Mrs. Ila Rhea Bowers, 77, passed away May 21, 2011, in Post Falls with her children and several family members by her side.

She was born Ila Rhea Weatherford on Aug. 3, 1933, in Oakesdale, Wash., to Harold and Eva (Rusch) Weatherford. She was raised on the family farm near Sanders with her three brothers. She attended local schools and graduated from Plummer High School in 1952. After graduation, Ila Rhea attended nursing school in Kansas where she met Leo Fuchs. The couple was married in 1954 in Montana. They made their home at Endicott, Wash., then moved to Worley in 1969 where they farmed. Leo and Ila Rhea Fuchs raised four children. The couple divorced in 1974.

She married Dale Bowers of Moscow in 1975. Dale and she had many wilderness adventures in Alaska and the lower 48, including placer mining and prospecting. She was asked by the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, to teach prospecting and mining in Alaska's outlying areas.

She attended Spokane Community College and Anchorage Community College. She participated in mining/prospecting courses. She later changed her studies to Fine Arts where she excelled in oil painting. She enjoyed painting pictures which she shared with many family and friends.

Dale and Ila moved to Coeur d'Alene to retire in 1994. Following Mr. Bowers death, Ila moved to Spokane.

She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Spokane. She was a former member of the Orchid Society and the Lady Jaycee's in Endicott.

Survivors include her four children, Terry Fuchs and his wife Wanda of Worley, Kim and Jason Hix of Lewiston, Mike Fuchs of Spokane, and Cheryl Boss and her husband Mark of Athol; 12 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Willis and Albert Weatherford; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Eva Weatherford; brother Herb J. Weatherford and sister Rosetta Weatherford.

Memorial gifts may be given to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Box 957, Tekoa, WA 99033.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tekoa, Wash. Father Jerry Graham will officiate at the service. Rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. at the church. A potluck dinner will follow the services.

Kramer Funeral Home, Tekoa, is handling the arrangements.