Willadean Noe

Willadean "Deanie" Woolsey Noe, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed with dignity on January 5th after a 2 ½ year fight that ovarian cancer did not expect. She was 76, but that was just a number to her. She lived every minute of every day - before and after her diagnosis - to the fullest and with humor. She was unstoppable. She was, and forever will be, a nurturing spirit, always with an open heart for the wounded and the underdog. This was especially evident when she chose to become a teacher's aide for emotionally, mentally, and physically challenged children at Wilcox Elementary in Pocatello, Idaho. She loved this job for 29 years. She also spent many years with the Special Olympics program, and the athletes she was responsible for were not her charges, they were her kids. She had formidable physical, emotional, and spiritual strength, and was fiercely independent, proud, forgiving, generous and wise. She strove to instill these qualities into her children, grandchildren, and all she took under her wing - and there were many. And she was funny – very funny. She was a story-teller, and the telling was made even funnier with her gestures. Her lessons are her legacy, and a powerful legacy it is. Nobody in her life walked away from her without a dose of laughter and wisdom.

Deanie was born on September 10th, 1938 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Raymond Max & Mary Saxton Woolsey.

After graduating from East High School in Salt Lake City, she went on to earn an Associate's Degree from Stevens-Henagar College. She married William "Bill" Corbett in 1957. They had two daughters, Lori & Wendi. They were divorced in 1962. She moved to Pocatello, where she met and married Orban A. Noe, and they had a son, Shan. After 23 years of marriage, she became a widow. She was again a widow after the death of her partner of 12 years, Thomas "Tom" Stamus. Three years ago, she found her groove when she and her very special friend, Rod Gettman, began their relationship. They enjoyed many - yet far too few - camping adventures together. They were also members of the Bannock Music Division B3 dart league, where, according to her, she pulled Rod out of more than a few errant throws. Deanie and Rod also enjoyed competing against each other doing crosswords, and phoning each other for help, or to gloat was a daily ritual.

When not adventuring and throwing, she enjoyed tending to her yard, especially her tribute garden to her Mom. She cherished her frequent time with her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as her grand-dogs. After her diagnosis, she discovered hockey and it was an inarguable date after her thrice-monthly chemo treatment at the Mountain State Tumor Institute in Boise, Idaho, that she and Wendi (along with any other family member handy) attend the Boise Steelheads home games. She was also a huge fan of NASCAR, though she didn't have a favorite driver. She just loved the sport.

Her many travels included two trips to Hawai'i with her sisters and mother, and a dream trip to Las Vegas, to see the NASCAR "Big Race" with Shan, which included pit access. Hawai'i and its flowers always held a special place in her heart.

She needed to stay busy, and quickly discovered after retiring in 2005 from Wilcox Elementary, that retirement wasn't her thing. She enjoyed her many years of employment at Kick's 66 Station and convenience store in Pocatello, and always had colorful stories of her day to share. It saddened her that she had to leave her job for treatment.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Max Woolsey, Sr. and Mary Saxton Woolsey, as well as Orban A. Noe, and Tom Stamus.

She is survived by her children - Lori Corbett-Hathaway (DeLynn), Wendi Corbett Roesler (Jeff), and Shan W Noe (Hope), eight grandchildren - Jade, Mateah and Paxton Noe, Derek (Alycia), Dani and Andrew "Drew" Roesler, and Christopher and Larissa Noe, two great-grandchildren, Miylah Davis, and Lilah Isabelle Roesler. She also found out shortly before her passing that she has another great-grand daughter on the way. She is also survived by a brother and two sisters – Raymond Max Woolsey, Jr. (Clair), Karen (Dave) Colbert, and Loretta (Jerald) Robison. She also leaves behind four grand-dogs – Carbomb, Ringo, Lily and Duchess, and innumerable friends.

Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, January 11th, 2015 at 1:00pm at Wilks Funeral Home in Chubbuck, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, a donation will be welcomed with a full heart to the Mountain
States Tumor Institute in her name at:
Mountain State Tumor Institute: MSTI
100 East Idaho Street
Boise, ID 83712

Deanie was all about laughter and joy and life, so please, it would be an honor to her to dress colorfully for the service. She strongly disliked funeral colors.

Please bring funny stories to tell or leave them with a family member so we can reflect on them during this difficult time.

Rest In Power, Deanie.