JoAnne Whitworth Pederson Passes Away April 12 2012

JoAnne Whitworth Pederson, 66, of Challis, Idaho, passed away Thursday, April 12, 2012 at the Discovery Care Centre in Salmon, Idaho.

Ella JoAnne was born October 6, 1945 in Pocatello, Idaho the youngest of five children born to George Daniel and Betty Jean (Donahue) Whitworth. She spent her early childhood in Mackay and her summers at Copper Basin. When JoAnne was five years of age her father joined the Army, so the family moved to the Pahsimeroi Valley where she attended school to the eighth grade in the one-room schoolhouse in May, Idaho. She went to Challis High School, graduating with the Class of 1963. She attended Boise State University for a year. She met Chuck Pederson and they were married May 27, 1967 at St. Louise Catholic Church in Challis, Idaho. To this union three children were born: Shanna, Graydon and Judd.
The family made their home in eastern Washington for a few years and then moved to Marysville, Washington where JoAnne raised her children. In 1980 they returned to the Pahsimeroi Valley. The couple was divorced in 1983. In 1984, she married Ron Mackay.
She worked at the Patterson School as a cook and took the opportunity to touch many children’s lives for the better. She worked at the dry cleaner’s, McPherson’s Clothing and the Village Square in Challis, Idaho.
Ron and JoAnne lived in Logan, Utah, where Ron finished his schooling and they moved to Mooreland, Idaho, where she worked for Payless Drug as a supervisor in the fabric department. She dearly loved this job and used her skills as a seamstress to make countless prom dresses and wedding gowns for many young ladies in the area. Ron and JoAnne divorced in 1996.
After her retirement in 1996, she returned to Challis. She lived across the street from her parents and enjoyed being close to them in their elderly years as she was also dealing with her own limitations due to Multiple Sclerosis. She was able to stay in her own home until 2007, when she required more help. She made friends wherever she was and treasured those relationships. She so appreciated the care she received from the staff at Challis, Pocatello and finally Salmon, until her passing.
JoAnne was a very devoted mother, aunt and grandmother to all her family and instilled into her family the importance of taking care of each other and being there for family. She believed in unconditional love for her family and her many friends. She had the ability to see the joy and happiness in everyone.
She is survived by daughter Shanna Pederson of Challis; sons Graydon (Stella) Pederson of Richland, Washington and Judd Pederson of Salmon; grandchildren Bryant (Kailie) Sullivan of San Diego, California, Angus Campbell of Boise, Idaho, Marigwen Campbell and Joanna Campbell of Challis, Jacob Edens and Hazel Edens of Richland; great-grandson Jack Sullivan of San Diego; and sisters Kathleen Latimer of Ellis, Idaho and Jeannie (Roy) Ellis of Ellis.
She was preceded in death by her parents; ex-husband Charles Pederson; brothers Timothy Whitworth and George Whitworth; many aunts, uncles, and brother-in-law McGee Latimer.
Memorial services were held Monday, April 16, 2012, at the Challis Middle School Gymnasium in Challis, Idaho. Inurnment was in Mackay, Idaho. Memorials are suggested to the Resident Council Fund at Discovery Care Centre at 600 Shanafelt St., Salmon, Idaho 83467.
Arrangements under the direction of the Jones & Casey Funeral Home of Challis, Idaho. Challis Messenger Apr 19 2012