Gertrude 'Chris' Story

Gertrude “Chris” Story was born on Nov. 28, 1925 in Pompton Lakes, N.J., and passed away Thursday, Feb. 18 2010, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Chris graduated in the top 10 percent of her high school class in 1943 at Pompton Lakes High School. She attended Wood Secretarial School in New York City. Chris joined the Army Air Corps in 1949 where she met her first husband, Stan Litz, and was discharged in 1950 by reason of marriage. Stan was sent to Korea where he was assigned to a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit.

Chris returned to Pompton Lakes, where she opened and operated a blueprint shop until Stan returned from Korea, was discharged and they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. They divorced and Chris went to work at GE, where she met her second husband Cliff Story.

Chris and Cliff moved to Hamilton, Ohio, where Chris began her own business designing and building houses. They relocated to Milwaukee, Wis., when Cliff changed jobs.

When Cliff died suddenly at the young age of 42, Chris went back to school for computer technology. Several jobs followed until she became HVAC service manager for F.X. Jacoby where she worked for close to 20 years until retirement at 65.

In 1990 she bought property in Cocolalla, Idaho, where she designed and built her dream retirement home.

As Chris was never able to have children, she chose the area to be close to her niece and her family. Her sister joined her in her Cocolalla home in 1995.

Chris was a strong, independent woman far ahead of her time competing for work in a world where few women did.

Chris was a skilled, innovative home designer completing finish work in the houses she built as she did in her home in Cocolalla.

Chris took an active interest in civic matters in Bonner County, serving on many committees, attending civic open houses for Bonner County projects, attending county commission meetings and giving input on county matters.

This civic work included volunteer participation on work done in the early 1990s on the County Comprehensive Plan, the Building Department Committee, State Land Use Committees and later on the Garwood to Sagle Highway 95 Project Advisory Committee.

Chris enjoyed gardening, landscaping her yard and watching the birds and wildlife that wandered through. Chris loved to travel and see new sights and she had an appreciation for literature, fine art, music, theater, and ballet. Chris had a great sense of humor and was an intelligent debater and conversationalist.

Chris is survived by her sister, Esther Gilchrist of Cocolalla; her niece, Shawn, and her husband, Mike Keough; and grandnephews Bryan and Daniel in Kootenai, Idaho; close friends, Joanne and Frank DeVoy in Wauwatosa, Wis.; and numerous nephews, nieces and their families across the country.

The family wishes to thank Sagle Fire crew and the doctors, nurses, and technicians at Bonner General Hospital for their kind and compassionate care of Chris in her last days.

As per her request, private family services will be held..

If desired, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Chris Story to the Day Break Center c/o the Sandpoint Senior Center, 820 Main St., Sandpoint, Idaho 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign Gertrude’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.