Marguerite Diffendaffer

05/16/1923 – 02/29/2012
Marguerite L. Diffendaffer, 88, of Blaine, WA, passed away February 29, 2012.Marguerite was  born May 16, 1923 to Alfred Grant Moore and Dora Eunetha Johnson Moore at Council, Idaho. She grew up in Council and New Plymouth, Idaho and graduated from New Plymouth High School. In New Plymouth she met James “Jim” M. Diffendaffer, the boy next door. They were married Sept. 29, 1940 and moved to Boise, Idaho. Marguerite was a stay at home Mom and raised her three children who were her pride and joy. She was very involved in their lives and their activities, volunteering as PTA president, Cub Scout Den Mother, car pooler, supporter and confidante. She taught her children through her actions to be caring, loving, honest and hard working. For 12 years she was very active and supportive in Boy Scouts. At the time, she was the only women to be presented with the Scouter’s Key in Idaho for leadership and leader training in the Mountain View Council. Marguerite researched and wrote a history of Council, Idaho called “Council Valley, Here They Labored.” It was published in 1977. She was very involved in crafts, family genealogy, camping, fishing and travel. She taught cake decorating classes and made many of the families and friends shower, wedding, birthday and anniversary cakes. She also made numerous flower arrangements for these celebrations. With Jim’s retirement they made custom trophies for Idaho Sporting Goods, and made beautiful items of wood and mirror which they sold at craft fairs or became family treasures. Marguerite and Jim traveled in their RV each fall, exploring all but three of the lower 48 states, preserving their adventures in many travel scrapbooks. They loved to take pictures of flowers wherever they travelled. She loved Mother Nature and taught her children to see the beauty in the world. In 2003, Marguerite moved to Lynden, WA and then to Blaine, WA to live with her daughter and husband. In 2004 she spent two months with her daughter Sharon and son-in-law Jerry, travelling in their RV through Canada, the Yukon and Alaska. She made several trips to visit her sons Dan and Lee and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, James “Jim” M. Diffendaffer, parents Alfred G. and Dora Moore; sisters Stella Essex, Mae Beckman, and Nellie Stahl; nephews Robert J. Essex and Jim Beckman. Survivors include, daughter, Sharon Bakke and husband Jerry of Blaine, WA; son, Dan Diffendaffer and wife Trudi of Eugene, OR; son Lee Diffendaffer of Fontanta, CA; brother-in-law, Gerry Diffendaffer and wife Judi of Boise, ID; sister-in-law, Edna Waldram and husband Dick of Twin Falls, ID; 11 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral Services will be held at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, Boise, Idaho. In lieu of flowers the family welcomes donations to Whatcom Hospice, 2800 Douglas Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225.