Joan F. Metzer-Peters, 79, former resident of Fernwood and St. Maries, died March 24, 2012, in Coeur d’Alene. She was born April 27, 1932, to Bob and Valeria (Schmitt) Dorsey in Cle Elum, Wash.

She grew up in Cle Elum and graduated from high school there with the class of 1950. She married Harold W. Metzer on March 7, 1953, in Cle Elum. They made their home in Seattle. She worked as a substitute school teacher in elementary education, raised her family, moved to St. Maries in 1976 and was a dedicated mother.

Joan and her husband moved to Fernwood in 1987 and opened N.P.O. Shake Mill. Her husband was killed delivering cedar shakes on his way to Yakima, Wash., in 1995. She sold the business to her son, Del, in 1997. She married Al Peters in 1998 in Fernwood and made their home there. He died in 2000. She met Bob Miller through the Good Sam’s and they made their home together in Dalton Gardens.

She was a Hospice of North Idaho volunteer, Fernwood P.E.O. Past Commodore and lifetime member of the State Line Outboard Racing Assn. of Post Falls.

Joan loved the ocean and loved to fish. She enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Alaska and the Caribbean.

Joan is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Del and Lisa Metzer of St. Maries, and Bob and Becky Metzer of Post Falls; daughter Tammy Metzer of Post Falls; step-daughters, Lynn and husband Randy Johnson, and Barbara Benthin; and her companion, Bob Miller, of Dalton Gardens and his children, Bill, Curtis and Deede. Also surviving, her stepsister, Ellen Greenwood and sister-in-law Mary Lou Millison; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by daughter Cindy Sipes in 2009.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday April 21, 2012, at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries. A potluck reception will follow services at the home of Casey Sutterlin, 1153 S. Fourth St.

Please visit Joan’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign her guest book.