Louise Teofila Oliver (Agosta), a resident of Spokane since 2020, passed away Jan. 3, 2024. She was 93 years old.

Louise was born to Louis and Anita Agosta (Gonzales) on July 18, 1930, in Los Angeles, Calif. Louise has a brother, Rudy (deceased), and a sister, Linda. Louise grew up, attended and graduated high school in Los Angeles.

Her family moved to Albuquerque, N.M., when her father got a job at Sandia Corp. Louise was a volunteer at the local USO when she met her husband, Raymond B. Oliver. Ray was in the Air Force and was stationed in Albuquerque at the time. They were married March 2, 1951, in Albuquerque. Ray and Louise moved to England when the Air Force transferred Ray to a base in Swindon. Their first child, Kathleen, was born there in 1954. Louise and her family returned to Albuquerque later that year.

Together, Louise and Ray built a home in Albuquerque where their two sons were born, Mikel (deceased) and Bryan (deceased). Ray left the Air Force and took a job at Sandia Corp. Louise remained at home raising their three children. During that time, she served as a Blue Bird leader and was involved in various other community activities. 

Louise and Ray bought a travel trailer and visited many state and national parks. They particularly liked the Northwest, where Ray had family. They sold their house in New Mexico and moved to Tonopah, Nev. After living in Nevada for a few years, they decided to pursue their dreams of living and ranching in the Northwest. In 1966, Louise and Ray bought a ranch in Cougar Gulch, located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Louise was involved with the local 4-H Club, the Cougar Gulch Grange Hall and helped edit the Cougar Kitten Newsletter. She worked part-time at a flower shop and the Kootenai Hospital Gift Shop. Over the years, Louise was involved in raising many farm animals, often bottle-feeding the calves on the back porch while watching bluebirds fly. While there were many challenges, there were also plenty of fun times out on the ranch. Of course, she didn’t give up on traveling. Louise and Ray once again purchased a motorhome and spent many winters together as snowbirds in Yuma, Ariz.

In 2005, they sold the last of the ranch property. They had a house built in the Hayden area and lived there until 2020. During those years, Louise became very involved in the Red Hat Society. She was proud to be known as one of the “Red Hatters” and loved wearing any fancy purple dress and ornate red hat combinations she could think of. Louise ultimately served as a Queen Mother for one of her Red Hatter groups. She was known as “Lady Bug Lou” by her sister Red Hatters and others. 

In 2020, Louise and Ray moved together to a retirement facility in Coeur d’Alene. In 2022, they both moved to Riverview Assisted Living in Spokane to be closer to their daughter, Kathleen, and son-in-law Mike. Louise was an avid reader and read the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane newspapers cover to cover every day. She also loved pop-up books and would share them with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whenever they came to visit. She frequently would cut out fun articles or pictures to share with family and friends. She loved crafts, making fairy gardens and painting rocks. Her favorite sayings were “Live, Love, Laugh” and “Take One Day At A Time.”

Louise is preceded in death by both her parents; her brother, Rudy; and her two sons, Mikel and Bryan. She is survived by her husband of 72 years; daughter, sister, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews: Raymond Oliver (husband); Kathleen Oliver-Buck (daughter) and husband Michael Buck; Travis Fullum (grandson) and wife Sarah Fullum with their children, Kira and Brandon; Destiny Buley (granddaughter) and husband Ray Buley; Linda Kenna (sister) and husband Bill Kenna and their children, Scott Kenna, Christine Kenna and Michelle Kenna-James; Jackie Payne (niece); Carl Gene Tippin (nephew).

Louise was greatly loved by her family and friends and will be truly missed. She brought much joy and happiness to all who knew her.

A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. Fourth St, Coeur d’Alene. Please visit Louise’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.