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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Halls, Esther Luce

Age 90

HALLS, Esther (Luce) (Age 90) Esther went home to be with the Lord on March 4, 2013, after a brief illness.

She was born January 2, 1923, in Payette, Idaho.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Howard J. Luce, Sr., and her brothers from California: Paul, John, and Virgil Snow.

She was a WAVES Petty Officer in 1943 near Atlanta when she met and married Howard Luce, a career Army soldier.

Married for 50 years, they raised a growing family while stationed in California, Ft. Lewis, Germany, Baltimore, Okinawa, and Spokane.

From 1967 on she was very involved with Our Lady of Fatima Church including Legion of Mary and Sunday school.

She was instrumental in supporting schools and hospitals through Guatemala Mission, and refreshed her Spanish to accompany church group trips there and serve as translator.

Proud of earning a BA in Religious Studies at Fr.

Wright College in 1979, she then spent three years as Religious Education Director at Fatima.

Always the seasoned traveler who enjoyed sharing cultural experiences, Esther took her children to many places, planned family vacations and camping trips, was a great family photographer, gardener, and seamstress.

Her passion for playing musical instruments, for singing, and for lifelong learning are reflected in her children.

She was an avid tennis fan and played tennis through her late 70s.

Everyone enjoyed her annual backyard ice-skating rink and New Years Day/Birthday pizza parties.

In 2001 she married Arthur Halls and moved with him to Sequim, to a new church and a whole new extended family.

She and “Artie” were very active in Church Ministries in Sequim.

Survived by her loving husband, Arthur Halls (Sequim); and his five daughters Debbie, Pam, Stephanie, Sharon, Tina; plus many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

All of Esther’s children are living: Howard Jr., Portland, [dau Jeanne]; Dr. Michael (Mary), Dayton [Toni Koller, David Luz, Annie (Eric) Wynkoop, Dan (Tracy)]; Samantha Luz (Mark Patterson), Tucson; Julie Rosenoff (Bruce) Spokane; Bill (Monica), Renton; James (Beth), Bellingham; Wyatt (Terri), Post Falls [Marjorie]; Joe (Laurie) Spokane [Hannah, Ruth]; Margie (Tim Clune); Vic [Alex, Ethan]; Katrina, Spokane; Diana Thompson, Phoenix [Natalia, Madeline]; great-grandchildren Sloane and Kate Koller, Calvin Wynkoop; various cousins, nieces, nephews.

Funeral Mass: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, Our Lady of Fatima, 34th and Perry, Spokane.

Another service will be scheduled in Sequim at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to House of Charity, P.O.

Box 2253, Spokane, WA 99210.