Mary Lou Rex, 96, passed away on Dec. 31, 2014, at The Renaissance at Coeur d'Alene.

Mary Lou was born on April 1, 1918, to Gilbert W. and Ruth (Schutts) Warren in Hamilton, Mont. She was raised in Corvallis, Mont. and graduated from Corvallis School District in 1936. She then attended Thomas Edison Vocational School in Seattle, Wash. and earned a Tailor's certificate.

Mary Lou married Rupert R. Rex on Sept. 27, 1940, in Corvallis, Mont. They lived in a number of places in the Northwest, but in 1958 they purchased a home on Tamarack Ridge in Cataldo, Idaho. They were residents of Cataldo for 46 years.

Mary Lou was a homemaker, farmer, horse breeder and trainer, 4-H leader, snowmobiler and a tailor. She was very innovative as she made many things for the horses, the farm and her family.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Rupert, who passed away Dec. 31, 1996; her parents Gilbert and Ruth Warren; and her brother Gilbert W. Warren, III.

She is survived by her two sons, Ron R. Rex and Doug (Diane) Rex; grandchildren Sharon (Kirk) Nelson, Rachel (Bruce) Backus, and Ryan (Kylee) Rex; great-grandchildren Keira, Shanyia, and Kaen Nelson, Madison and Brody Backus, and Keri, Kori, Reagan and Ryker Rex.

The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 24, 2015, at Pinehurst Bible Church (log cabin), 210 Main St., Pinehurst, Idaho. Lunch will follow in the annex of the church.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Kootenai County Extension 4-H horse camp.

From her son Doug: Mom was a self-sufficient woman. Proof is in the fact that she took on the task of building her own kitchen cabinets in the first home that I remember living in. The only tools she had to work with were a butcher knife, pliers and hand saw. That was in 1949 and they were still serviceable when we moved away.

Mom always loved horses but had limited room for them and no pasture at all. In 1958 the folks bought a farm on Tamarack Ridge, Cataldo. Now she had plenty of room for horses, but also 13 head of Black Angus cattle came with the deal. I don't know how much experience Mom and Dad had with cattle, but they both dug in and learned.

Mom was a horse 4-H leader for 11 years and enjoyed working with kids. I know she had many fond memories of those years and the youth she had the pleasure of working with. Quite often those kids, now adults, would contact Mom and tell her how much they appreciated her help and her dedication.

Two of those kids that learned horsemanship from Mom were her granddaughters, Rachel and Sharon. Rachel spent summers on the farm from the time she was three years old, riding with Sharon and Mom or anyone else they could find. Both girls are still involved with horses and get many hours of pleasure from them, all because of Grandma.

Mom, you were loved and will be missed.

English Funeral Chapel is entrusted with the final arrangements. Please visit Mary Lou's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.