Anita Shambaugh

Anita Shambaugh, 65, of Idaho Falls and Carey, Idaho, passed away in Idaho Falls on May 7, 2025.

Anita was born January 28, 1960, in Buffalo, Wyoming, to Amy Jo and Edward A. Shambaugh. She spent most of her childhood in Coulee Dam, Washington, and graduated from Lake Roosevelt High.

In 1976, Anita married Mark Hirst, and they made their home in Belvedere, Washington. On May 7, 1982, they welcomed their daughter, Sara, into the world. After Mark and Anita separated, she moved to Buffalo, Wyoming, then moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, to attend Wyoming Community College. In 1989, Anita moved to Pocatello, Idaho, to live with her parents and attend Idaho State University.

Anita was an advocate for the blind and handicapped and served on a Pocatello City Council committee to provide input related to blind and handicapped issues.

Anita worked for Idaho Health and Welfare as a records specialist until her health forced her to retire. In 2007, she received a pancreas and kidney transplant due to living with Type 1 Diabetes for more than 40 years. In 2009, she moved to Ammon, Idaho, to be near her mother. The transplanted kidney failed and she received a second kidney in 2014. In 2023, Anita moved to Carey, Idaho, to live with her daughter and family. She loved living with Sara, Bo, and her grandsons, Axl and Cooper.

Anita enjoyed gardening and growing houseplants. Anita enjoyed many crafts. She made beautiful crocheted and knitted items, and made lovely cross-stitch items. Anita loved her pets, especially cats. Her first word being "kitty." She always had cats and loved her dogs, Dolly and Ruby.

She is survived by her daughter, Sara (Bo) Weaver; grandsons, Axl and Cooper Martin; her mother, Amy Marko; her brothers, John (Joanne), Scott (Lynn), and Joe (MaryEileen) Shambaugh; nieces, Rian and Lauren Shambaugh; and nephews, Michael, Colin, and Nicholas Shambaugh.

She was preceded in death by her father, Edward A. Shambaugh; her grandparents, Marian and William (Bill) Petersen and June and Allen Shambaugh.

We want to thank Dr. Michael Haderlie and his staff, the EIRMC staff, and the Promontory Point Rehabilitation, who gave Anita loving care.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Willow Grove Cemetery in Buffalo, Wyoming, where Anita will be buried near her grandparents. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Sara's home in Carey, Idaho.