Idella Lee Suzanne (Smith) Keys

Idella Lee Suzanne (Smith) Keys, 33, of Boise and formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 20 at a local hospital surrounded by her family.

A celebration of her life will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cloverdale Funeral Home, 1200 N. Cloverdale Road, Boise. According to Idella's request, her family will spread her ashes at a later date.

Idella was born to Robert M. and Connie I. Smith on July 8, 1974, in Hillsboro. When she was 2 the family moved to New Meadows, Idaho where Idella attended school until the age of 14. They then moved to La Grande where she lived until after she graduated from La Grande High School in 1993.

After graduation, Idella moved to Boise where she met her husband, Billy Keys. Idella and Billy were married on July 23, 1999. They moved to New Meadows in 2000 where she ran the High Meadows Café for 2 1/2 years. Idella worked as a waitress from the age of 17 and treated her customers as if they were a part of her family.

Idella gave birth to her son, William "Kyson" Keys on Jan. 7, 2003. One month later, Idella was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In July 2004, she and her family moved back to Boise, where she remained for the rest of her life, to be closer to her doctors.

Idella enjoyed spending time with Kyson, who she always said was the most important person in her life. Idella was very family oriented and loved getting together and cooking big family meals. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, huckleberry picking, reading and baking. Idella always greeted everyone with a smile even at the end of her long battle with cancer.

She is survived by her husband, Billy, and beloved son Kyson Keys of Boise; stepchildren, Christopher and Bryceanne of California; parents, Robert and Connie Smith of Boise; sisters, Stephanie (Clay) Morgan of Boise and Shaundra (Thomas) Vienola of Boise; brother, Shayne (Nicole) Smith of Caldwell; three nephews; two nieces; paternal grandparents, Sibyl and Richard Smith of Fruitland; and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Ronald and Elsie Clarkson and Clinton Perkins; maternal great grandmother, Euphemie Perkins; Paternal great-grandparents, Arlie and Jessie Smith, Claudia (Granny) and Roy Frison; a nephew, Kysun Houser, and cousin, Jeremy "John" Smith .

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to an educational fund that has been set up for Kyson at any US Bank. For more information on making donations call Stephanie Smith at 208-861-0849.