Elva ‘Tootie’ Louise Willoughby

Died 9/22. 2023

Elva Louise Willoughby, lovingly known as “Tootie,” passed away Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Golden Girls Residential Care due to complications from a stroke. She just celebrated her 84th birthday the week before.

Elva was born in Lewiston on Sept. 13, 1939, to Ross and Elva Harrington. She was quickly renamed Tootie by her older brothers and the name stuck for the rest of her life. She spent many of her early years living on a farm in Davenport, Wash., with her aunt Margaret and uncle Harold. She learned many of her values and life lessons on the farm. She moved back to Lewiston at the age of 12 and attended Lewiston schools. Tootie met a young man named Kenny Willoughby when she was 14. She loved to tell the story of how they met on a blind date. A friend offered her a blouse if she would go out with her boyfriend’s buddy. She always said that he hung around until she fell for him. They married on June 10, 1955. They welcomed their first child, Pamela Jean (Pammy), in June of 1956, and their second, Donald Kenneth (Donnie) in August of 1958. Tootie’s priority in life was her family and she was an excellent cook and baker. Many of the neighborhood kids came by to have some of her homemade goodies. She was also an accomplished seamstress making a lot of clothes for her daughter and herself. Ken and Tootie had a good life hunting, fishing, camping and playing cards with their friends for many years. Tootie enjoyed riding motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATVs. Most people who knew her called her “feisty” and a “spitfire.” She was the center of the family and the problem solver.

Tootie was preceded in death by her husband and soulmate, Ken, her mother and father, her aunt Margaret and uncle Harold, and her brothers, Vernon Dennis, Maurice Harrington and Richard Wickersham. She is survived by her daughter, Pam Huffman (John), her son, Don Willoughby, her granddaughter, Shelbi Rembold and her beloved great-granddaughter, Samarra Rembold.

The family would like to thank the caregivers and nurses at Golden Girls who befriended mom and cared for her so well. Many of them loved her stories.

A memorial service for Tootie will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, at Mountain View Funeral Home, 3521 Seventh St., Lewiston, with an urn placement in the family niche. There will also be coffee and cookies after the service per Tootie’s request.