Jean C. Markham

Jean C. Markham Passed away peacefully at home on January 15, 2019, at the age of 95. A gathering of family and friends will be held Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 11:00 am at Rost Funeral Home McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

Jean was born December 28, 1923 in Bliss, the eleventh child of Fred and Edith Colvin, Idaho pioneers who had settled in the area many years before. The family farmed and ranched in the area of Bliss. Jean graduated from Bliss High School in 1941 and after graduation, she attended Nursing School in Lewiston, Idaho. While at Madigan General Hospital at Fort Lewis, Washington, she was taking care of GI’s who had been wounded overseas during World War II and met Frank Markham, an Army GI sent home to recuperate from his injuries. They were married and settled in Mountain Home, ID in 1948.

Jean and Frank had four children, Pat, Janet, Kenny and Gary. She only worked for a short time after moving to Mountain Home, working for a local doctor and as a bookkeeper for the Pontiac Dealer. She enjoyed her garden of fresh vegetables and there were always fresh or canned vegetables and fruit on the table for her family. The family often enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting and visiting relatives and after Frank’s retirement, they continued to camp and travel all over the country, meeting and making numerous new friends. Family reunions with her siblings were well attended, the last one with hundreds showing up at the Bray Family Ranch in Bliss, Idaho.

Jean and Frank took up rock hounding and learned the craft of polishing rocks and making jewelry with gem stones, Jean became an expert at her hand made wire wrapped gem stones, of which she was famous for her wire wrapping demonstrations at Rock & Gem shows.

Jean is probably more well-known for her membership in organizations and lodges. She was a lifetime charter member of the local VFW Auxiliary and joined Guiding Star Rebekah Lodge #4 in 1954. She found her niche as a Rebekah and went on to become a member of all branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. She is a Past President of the Department Association Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant of Idaho, and Past President of the Rebekah Assembly of Idaho. She was loved by all members for her graciousness and knowledge of the Order. She followed Frank on many trips around the United States and Canada for various Grand and International Lodge meetings and represented Idaho many times at the International Association of Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant and the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies. She was awarded the Decoration of Chivalry by the Order and received many accolades, her most satisfying being for her recipe to fry breaded fish at the annual Encampment Fish Fry held at Island Park, Idaho for 32 years.

Jean is preceded in death by Frank, her husband of 67 years, her parents, three brothers and eight sisters. She is survived by her four children; daughter Pat and husband Donnie Marvin of Mountain Home; daughter Janet and husband Archie Bruce of Illinois; son Kenny Markham of Mountain Home; and son Gary and wife Sandy Markham of Michigan; ten grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to Guiding Star Rebekah Lodge #4, 5469 SE Harvest Circle, Mountain Home, ID 83647. All donations received will be presented to The Rebekah Funeral Aid Association of Idaho.