Shirley E. (Spellman) Rhodes, of Rathdrum, fought against pancreatic cancer but lost the short fight and passed in peace on April 4, 2013, at Hospice House who cared for her final days.

She was born May 5, 1929, in Isabel, S.D., to Henry and Leona (Motis) Spellman. At a young age, her family headed west with intentions of moving to Seattle but along their route they stopped in Coeur d’Alene and never left. A short time after graduating from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1947, Shirley married Thomas Potter and they had three children. Shirley was a homemaker until her children were all in school when she began her career as a book keeper for Avco Finance. She and Thomas later divorced.

Following the eruption of Mount St. Helens in May 1980, Shirley was in need of having the ash cleaned from her roof. Charles Rhodes happened to be in Daylight Donuts that morning and volunteered to assist Shirley with the clean up. Later Shirley invited Charles over for dinner, they began dating and were married Feb. 14, 1981. In 1983 Charles and Shirley went back to Pennsylvania to take care of Charles's mother’s estate. Shirley got to see many points of historic interest in eastern Pennsylvania. She was glad to return to Idaho in 1986.

After closing the Paper Toad, Shirley retired and returned to being a homemaker. She thoroughly enjoyed stained glass, crossword puzzles and gardening. Most of all she was an avid reader, even documenting and reviewing the books she had read throughout the years.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Terry Potter and her brother, Russell Spellman of Spokane. She will be forever missed by her surviving husband, Charles H. Rhodes of Rathdrum; children, Clark Potter of Coeur d’Alene and Peggy Lee Potter of Wallace; brother Duane Spellman of Houston, Texas; and numerous extended family members and dear friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden ID 83835. Please visit Shirley’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.