Peggy Carlene LaFay

Peggy (Christiansen) LaFay was born on March 8, 1955, in Pocatello, Idaho to Carol O’len Christiansen and Patsy Ruth Cook Christiansen. While growing up, Peggy moved all over the west before the family finally settled in Swan Valley, Idaho. She always enjoyed the small town life. Swan Valley was where Peggy developed her love of the outdoors and the water. After her parents divorced, she moved with her mother to Pocatello, Idaho.

While living in Pocatello, she met and married Leroy Devore. They had two boys: Brandon Leroy and Craig O’len. They blessed her with three grandchildren. Grandsons: Oscar and Otto Devore and granddaughter Riley Devore. Peggy and Leroy later divorced.

Peggy went on to raise the boys mostly on her own. As a single parent she worked several jobs (often two at the same time) to make ends meet. Her family was always so important to her, not just her children but her siblings and many cousins, aunts and uncles. For many years she set up family reunions with over 100 people, attending and camping out. Peggy never missed a chance to camp, always inviting family and friends to come along. Often, she would take cousins, nieces, nephews and the children of her friends with her, even if the parents were not able to come along. Most of those children still talk about those trips 40 years later.

After being laid off from Kraft Foods she went back to school and completed her education. With the new degree in hand, she moved to Boise with her mom and boys looking for better opportunities. Once in Boise she went to work for Micron – where she met the love of her life and best friend, Stacy LaFay. She was so proud of the house she bought in Boise. However, her and Stacy went on to build two houses together, one in Boise and the one in New Meadows, bother were very special to her as it was something Stacy and her created together. They created a life together full of love, adventure and travel. They traveled to Hawaii for New Years Y2K, Mexico while visiting family in Arizona, the Caribbean with her rafting group, San Diego to see their friend’s son graduate, Montana sight seeing and enjoying snowmobiling into Old Faithful where they stayed, and Wyoming for the snowmobile hill climbs. However, Peggy’s favorite place to travel was Hells Canyon to camp and jet boat with her and Stacy’s lifelong friends. Just name a few.

Peggy was a very talented and creative person, who was very generous with those talents. She always made craft items, ceramics, quilts as well as baked goods for all those she loved. She would pick huckleberries for hours on end. Stacy would often say he was a huckleberry widow. Her huckleberry desserts were always a favorite.

She made sure if there was a new baby, wedding or graduation they got a quilt from her.

Peggy’s love extended well beyond immediate family. She cherished her siblings, friends, children and grandchildren. She was always willing to help where she could and often did so without being asked. If she was aware of a need she did her best to help.

Peggy considered Leti as the daughter she never had. Leti and her daughter Berklee soon became a very important part of her and Stacy’s life here in New Meadows as Peggy’s sons and their families did not live as close as she wanted.

Peggy is survived by her husband Stacy LaFay, father and mother-in-law Milton and Vicki LaFay; siblings Melvina (Dale) Burgener, Kenny (Kathi) Christiansen, Lori (Gerald) Stoelb, Michael (Toad) Christiansen, Neil (Melody) Christiansen, Bobbett (Dean) Westerfield, Roy Christiansen, and Jacques (Nancy) LaFay and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Peggy was preceded in death by her mother Patsy Christiansen, father Carol (Doris) Christiansen, brother Mark Christiansen, her grandparent and various aunts and uncles.

The world is a little less bright without the energetic, happy, loving, courageous, generous person that was Peggy. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Online condolences may be left at www.mccallfunerals.com

Arrangements in care of McCall Funeral Home.