Jeanne H. Johnston Kemmerer, 90, went to her heavenly home on Feb. 8, 2013, at Regency Pacific (formerly Beehive Homes) in Coeur d’Alene. She was born on Sept. 14, 1922, in Prairie City, Iowa, to Frank A. and Ora Wayman Hoskins. She had four brothers: Donald, Robert, Richard and Keith.

Jeanne spent her young life enjoying her passion, music, and helping with the family businesses, a furniture and Hardware store and funeral home, where she sang at funeral services and drove the family ambulance.

After graduating from Brighton High School in 1940, she continued her passion in music and went to the National Vocal Music finals in St. Paul Minn., in 1940. In 1945 she moved to the Ellis Ranch on the Salmon River outside of Challis, Idaho, to explore the Wild West. There she met and married Melvin C. Johnston. Out of this union were born three children: Beverly, Timothy, and Frederick.

The family moved to Spokane in the fall of 1946 and later moved to Hayden Lake in 1953.

Jeanne was a soloist and choir member at First Baptist Church in Coeur d’Alene and soloist and choir director and directed the young people’s choir at Bethel Baptist Church Coeur d’Alene.

From 1954 to June 1969 she worked as assistant and office manager for Dr. Forest Schini.

Her marriage to Melvin Johnston ended in divorce in 1966 and in 1969 she moved to Denver to care for her daughter Beverly. She later met and married Blaine V. Kemmerer in 1972 and returned to Hayden Lake in 1979.

Jeanne was a past president of Credit Professional International District 9 and 10 and was involved in the organization for more than 30 years. She worked full time in the credit industry until she was 76 years old.

She was a people person her whole life. Everyone she would meet was a friend instantly and a friend for life. She loved to host many gatherings where she would prepare all the food for friends and family but among her favorite would be Christmas in July with all the decorations to make you feel the season of Christmas.

She had so many wonderful qualities that she has now passed on to her children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved her family dearly. And she will be missed greatly but not forgotten.

We give thanks to our Lord and Savior that he gave us this time together and now she is finally home.

She leaves two sons and wives Timothy and Cheryl Johnston of Coeur d’Alene, and Fred and Naomi Johnston of Anchorage, Alaska, two step-daughters Suzanne Gray, Kristina McBride, and step-son Keith Kemmerer all of the Denver area; 14 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Beverly, husband Blaine V Kemmerer.

We would like to thank Regency Pacific (formerly Beehive Homes) Coeur d’Alene for the wonderful care they gave to our mother.

A celebration of her life will be 2 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013, at English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene. Jeanne never wanted anyone to leave a gathering without eating so a reception/ luncheon will follow.

Visit Jeanne’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.