Ellen Joyce Durham

Ellen Joyce Durham passed away Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Spokane. She had suffered a major stroke Thursday.

Ellen was born Feb. 28, 1935, to Orville and Violet (Peer) DeHaven in Winchester. She was the second of four children. Ellen attended school in Winchester until the sixth grade. Her family then moved to Sweetwater, and she finished her education at Lapwai High School, graduating in the class of 1953.

After graduation, she moved to Grangeville where she began working as a bank teller. There she met and married, Bill Durham. Bill joined the U.S. Air Force soon after and together they left the area for a few years. They returned to Potlatch, where they farmed and raised their children.

She is survived by Bill and her three children, Gwendolyn Lea, Robert Allen, and Stephen Clay. In retirement, she and Bill traveled the west in their “coach” until poor health required her to move to Suncrest, Wash., to be cared for by her daughter Gwen and son-in-law, Jeff Williams. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Grace (Frank) Sparks, and Alice (Glen) Cannon; her grandchildren, Russell and Amber; and her great-granddaughter, Ellie; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Harold DeHaven.

Services are pending in the spring. The family would like to thank Gwen and Jeff Williams for faithfully caring for Ellen during the last five years.

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