Obituary: Stout, Jeanne Bernice
Age 88
Jeanne died at Northstar Retirement Center in Coeur d’Alene.
Volunteerism and a good sense of humor were part of Jeanne’s being.
She gave generously of her time, talent and resources to many causes, most notably St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the University of Idaho and Gritman Medical Center Auxiliary.
She never met a stranger and always shared a smile and laughter with everyone around her.
Jeanne was born on New Years Day 1925 in Kellogg, ID and was the youngest of three girls.
Rose was five years older and Eleanor was her senior by two years.
All the girls were born in Kellogg.
Mom and Dad, John and Clara Colonello were both from northern Italy, so Jeanne was 100% Italian!
Jeanne graduated from Kellogg High School in 1942.
She married Jean Cobb a year later, making her a wartime bride.
Their two sons from this marriage are Jerry Cobb and Jeffrey Cobb.
Jeanne worked for five years as a waitress at the Miner’s Hat in Kellogg and later as a cashier at Cobb’s Furniture and as a dental assistant.
She married Elmer Stout on September 1, 1960 in Kellogg.
He had lost his wife, Phyllis Papa to leukemia in 1957.
Elmer and Phyllis had children Mary Louise Stout and Ross Stout.
Shortly after the Stouts moved from Kellogg to Moscow in 1966, Jeanne started a 14 year career with Dr. Len Labine as a dental assistant.
She also had brief employment with Emily’s Day Care for three newborns in her home before retiring and devoting her time to volunteerism.
Jeanne joined the auxiliary at Gritman Medical Center in 1986, and Elmer later joined her as the first active male member.
She was chair of the membership committee and headed up ticket sales and auction duties for the auxiliary’s holiday wine tasting party for several years.
Jeanne and Elmer volunteered all across town, especially for St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and they helped raise money for the University of Idaho.
Together they visited nursing homes, volunteered at the hospital auxiliary and St. Mary’s School.
In the 14 years she participated in “Stride for Gold”, a fund raiser for University of Idaho women’s athletics, Jeanne set annual stratospheric records that totaled nearly $70,000.
She missed the first year, but signed up for the next.
Jeanne and Elmer shared a love of Vandal sports.
They were football season ticket holders for 40 seasons, and Jeanne continued as a Vandal Booster and attendee to sporting events.
The Stouts had a close family that included five grandchildren.
Many in the Cobb and Stout families attended the UI, among them Jerry Cobb (‘71) and Mary Lou Stout Cobb (‘70), Jeff Cobb (‘74) and Molly Stout (‘08).
The Cobb-Stout family has a grove of trees in the new UI Arboretum.
Elmer preceded her in death on August 13, 2006, and both of her sisters as well.
She is survived by her four children, Jerry, Mary Lou, Jeff and Ross; five grandchildren, Beth (Jason) Sorge, Jacob Cobb, Gretchen Cobb, Jerry J. Cobb, and Molly (Eric) Oscarson and three great-grandchildren.
A celebration of the rich life of Jeanne will be a funeral mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Moscow on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 10:30 AM.
A reception and luncheon will follow immediately at St. Mary’s Family Center.
A graveside service will be held later at the Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg.
The family requests that contributions be given in Jeanne’s name to St. Mary’s School or the Jeanne Stout Stride for Gold Scholarship Fund at the University of Idaho.
Arrangements have been entrusted to SHORT’S FUNERAL CHAPEL, Moscow, and online condolences may be sent to www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.