Esther's Obituary

Obituary of Esther G. Price

ESTHER G. PRICE, 90, Orofino
1919 - 2009

Esther Gladys Price, 90, passed away on Thursday, December 31, 2009, at the Clearwater Valley Hospital in Orofino, after a sudden bout with pneumonia. She was surrounded by family and friends.

Esther was born on January 26, 1919, at the family home in Kendrick, Idaho, to Oscar and Anna Bolon-Aiken. Esther went to school in Kendrick and always loved being an Idaho girl. From an early age she enjoyed the outdoors; especially gardening. In 1934 she met and married Richard Crooks in Moscow, Idaho. He was killed in 1944 in the Marshall Islands and won a purple heart for his courageous efforts in WWII. They had one child together, Richard (Dick) Crooks. During WWII Esther worked for the Army Signal Depot in Sacramento, California. She then returned to her beloved Idaho after the war and worked as a waitress and bartender in Orofino. After the death of her first husband she moved to Yakima, Washington, and graduated from Washington Florist Design School. Esther loved flowers and worked in floral shops in the Yakima area until 1967. She found her way back to Orofino and worked at Oud’s Hardware and Snyders Sporting Goods.

After being widowed at an early age she later remarried Orval (Buck) Kassel in Orofino, Idaho, but ended in divorce. In 1968 she married Clyde Price in Kamiah, Idaho. They had many happy years together, until his death 1993. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, camping and fishing with family, and gardening. She organized the Orofino Sodbusters Gardening Club in 1953. She loved her small family and her friends. In 1972, Esther started work for the State Liquor Store in Orofino, Idaho and managed it for 12 years until retiring in 1984.

As all her family and friends know, Esther was very involved in politics, in both the local and state arenas. She was on the City Council for Orofino, Idaho from 1981 until 1993. Esther was proud to be the Clearwater Democratic Party Chairman for several years in Orofino, and she was awarded the State Chair’s Award from the Idaho Democratic Party. Governor John Evans appointed her to the Idaho State JETPA Committee for one term and Governor Cecil Andrus appointed her to the same committee for an additional two terms. Esther served on the Executive Boards for CEDA and PIC. She worked hard on political campaigns for Governor Evans, Governor Andrus, Representative Richard Stallings, Representative Larry LaRocco and Attorney General Larry Echohawk, and Senator Frank Church. She served as Treasurer on the political campaigns for Clearwater County Sheriff Nick Albers, her dearest and closest friend. The entire Albers family remained friends with Esther to her dying day. She loved them as her own family and often referred to the Albers children as her grandchildren.

After the sudden and untimely death of her only son, Dick, Esther sold her home in Riverside and moved to Brookside Landing in 2001. Esther, or Nana as her immediate family called her, was the pillar of strength of the family. Often providing advise and wisdom to family, as only time and life experiences can provide.

Esther is survived by her grandchildren Bradley N. and Sandra M. Crooks of Moscow Idaho; Richard K. Crooks of Moscow, Idaho; great-grandchildren Kimberly Mearse of Bend, Oregon, Nathan B. Crooks of Lewiston, Idaho and Simonne M. Crooks of Moscow, Idaho. She is also survived by her great-great-grandchildren Octavia and Anikyn Crooks of Lewiston, Idaho; Corbin Crooks of Mitchell, South Dakota and Avery Mearse-Spikerman of Bend, Oregon. She is also survived by her nephew, Scott Crocker of Roseburg, Oregon.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Anna Bolon-Aiken; siblings Leora Andrews, Inez Howington, and Jim Aiken; her son Richard (Dick) Crooks; and husbands Richard Crooks, Orval (Buck) Kassel, and Clyde Price.

She made a difference to her family, friends and community. All who knew her will miss her vivacious personality and strong character. Esther, Nana, your spirit will be with us always.

There will be a celebration of her life at Brookside Landing on Sunday, January 10, from 2:00 to 4:00.


(Written by Brad and Sandye Crooks).