Ida Ruth McCutchen

On September 26th, 1926, Ida Ruth Naiman was born and raised in the rural Coeur d’Alene, Idaho area. Ida attended Coeur d’Alene High School and graduated in 1942 at the age of 16, two years ahead of her classmates because of how smart she was. After graduating high school, and 16, Ida struck out on her own at the start of the U.S. involvement in WWII. Ida worked in the Defense Department in Pasco, WA as a secretary with continuous levels of advancement and responsibility.

Ida met and dated Calvin Francis McCutchen of Pendleton, OR before he shipped out to the Pacific conflict for 3 years as a Machinist Mate & Airplane Mechanic aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Rudyerd Bay. After they were married they moved to Seattle, WA where their 3 children; David, Donald, & Roger were born. After Roger was born, they moved from Seattle to Snohomish, WA.

Ida & Calvin owned and operated a service station in Snohomish while their boys were growing up. Once her youngest, Roger, began first grade it was time for Ida to continue her career as a secretary, Certified Professional Secretary & Court Reporter, as well as a wife, mother and homemaker. She was employed at First National Bank, Scott Paper Co. and Snohomish County Government.

Ida was talented at just about everything; as an accomplished seamstress, making her kids clothes, toys, and other fun things, to a chef and baker, making meals and treats for her children and grandchildren. She was an experienced writer, shorthand writer, certified braille transcriber, professional secretary, reader, and gardener. She enjoyed camping, fishing, clam digging, cooking and traveling with her husband Calvin. She and Calvin traveled to Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand, Europe, Hawaii, Reno, Las Vegas, Oregon, Idaho and often to the ocean with relatives and friends.

Once Ida retired she continued to enjoy traveling and became a volunteer at the Everett Senior Center working in the kitchen and assisting other seniors. She also stepped up her toy and stuffed animal creation projects for her grandchildren, as well as her delicious baking of cookies, breads, biscuits and other wonderful baked items. Many were also recipients of her creative knitting projects.

Ida was an amazing person who could have excelled at just about anything at all in life.

She leaves behind her sons David and Roger and daughter's in law Sally and Kristi.

Her grandchildren, great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors as well as her beloved friend and companion Charlie, the cat. Ida was an animal lover.

Ida was preceded in death by her husband Calvin in 1978 and her son Donald in February, 2018.