Laree Maeser

LaRee Nuttall Maeser, 87, of Idaho Falls, passed away January 2, 2018, at Turtle & Crane Assisted Living Center. She was under the care of her family and Encompass Hospice. LaRee was born January 12, 1930, in Benson, Utah, to James Leo Nuttall and Lydia Marie Jensen Falslev Nuttall. She grew up and attended schools in Cache Valley and graduated from North Cache High School. She also attended Snow College and the University of Utah, earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She graduated with the class of 1952. On March 21, 1952, she married Paul Howe Maeser in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple. LaRee worked briefly at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, before moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to be with her husband while he served in the U.S. Army. Their first child, Paula, was born in Colorado. They returned to Utah in 1954, and she worked at Logan LDS Hospital as a staff nurse. Their second child, Greg, was born in Logan. They moved to Idaho Falls in 1957 and were blessed with three more additions to the family, Scott, Janet, and Nansi. LaRee served as Idaho Public Health Association Vice President, Idaho Association of Home Health Agencies President, Sub Area Council Region VII President, and received a special award for Maternal & Child Public Health Programs in Idaho. She received special recognition from the Idaho Governor for her work with public health services during the Teton Dam Disaster in 1976. She organized and directed a Home Health Visiting Nurse Program which served the eight counties of Eastern Idaho. In 1978, LaRee became District VII Health Department Physical Health Director, administering public health nursing, dental, and nutrition programs throughout Eastern Idaho. After 1987, she worked part time as a public health nursing consultant. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LaRee served compassionately in Relief Society and in many other church positions. She enjoyed crafts, family history, gardening, homemaking, and knitting. LaRee is survived by daughter, Paula (Neil) Johnson of Florence, AZ; son, Greg (Jerilyn) Maeser of Ammon, ID; son, Scott (Julie) Maeser of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Janet (John) Hedgecock of West Richland, WA; daughter, Nansi (Paul) Murdock of Alpine, UT; sister, LaVoy Williams of Providence, UT; sister, Lorna Archibald of Benson, UT; 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Paul Maeser, brother, Leo Junior Nuttall, and sister, LuDean Eliason. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Idaho Falls LDS Parley Ward, 2055 Coronado Avenue, with Bishop Karl Winegar officiating. The family will visit with friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 973 S. Ammon Road, and from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery.

Funeral Services will be held