Obituary: Shrope, Ila Deett (Byers)
From an Eastern Washington pioneer heritage, Ila was born in 1928 to William and Nellie Byers on the family farm near the town of Spangle.
Being the youngest of six children, Ila acquired the attributes of listening, patience and caring that would endear her to family and friends the rest of her life.
She graduated from Spangle High School in 1946 and soon after met her soul mate, Glenn, who had just returned from WWII US Army service in the Pacific.
They were married in 1947 in the Spokane Valley where they settled and raised four children.
Ila was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who loved and cared deeply about her family and friends.
After helping put her children through college and assured they were on their own, Ila and Glenn enjoyed many summers at Bayview, ID on Lake Pend Oreille as well as travel to foreign places, and in later years, alternating their time between Yuma, AZ and Spokane Valley.
Despite many years of suffering from a nerve disorder affecting her swallowing and speech, she admirably persevered and continued to have a sweet nature to all who knew her.
Her heart was recently broken by the sudden passing of her youngest daughter, Sue (Jones) in September.
Ila was also preceded in death by three of her sisters and a brother.
She is survived by husband Glenn Shrope, children Steve (Linda), Gerry (Cindy) and Nancy (Dr. James Zimmerman), son-in-law Kelly Jones, sister Willean (Lindstrom), as well as nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who will all miss her.
A family memorial event will be held at a future date.
Remembrance donations can be made to the American Dystonia Society, 17 Suffolk Lane, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.