Jewell Reed Gilchrist

On June 1st Jewell Reed Gilchrist left Earth to be with her Heavenly Father after a long illness. She spent her final days in the company of her beloved friends and family.

Jewell was born March 19, 1955 to Franklin Neil and Clysta June Reed in Rigby, Idaho. She attended  elementary and middle school in the one-room schoolhouse in Clyde, Idaho. She graduated from Challis High School in 1973 where she was also crowned Homecoming Queen. She married Kim J. Gilchrist November 22, 1974, and they made their first home in Howe, Idaho where they welcomed their first two children Travis and Heather. They then moved to Bellevue, Idaho and welcomed Crissi and Tell to the family. The family moved to Arco, Idaho in 1986 where she would reside for the remainder of her life.

Jewell had many hobbies and projects going at the same time and in several directions. She was exceptionally talented at leather work among other forms of arts and crafts. She was an avid lover of rodeo and all things related to the Old West and Native American Culture. Jewell took up many occupations in her life, but none she loved more than serving as a butcher for Glenn’s Grocery in Bellevue. Dune buggy rides, family picnics and creek fishing were a constant joy in her life. She loved the outdoors.

Jewell always had a smile on her face and welcomed the gift of gab as she could start a conversation with just about anyone and often did. She seldom knew a stranger. Her family was definitely her highest priority and she was always working to gather them from wherever the winds took them. She cherished every memory of them. Her heart was always in the Little Lost River Valley as she loved telling stories of her childhood there. She loved her children unconditionally and it showed in her life and how she spoke of them. She was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, her faith was unshakeable.

Jewell had an incredible ability to see the good in everyone and everything around her. She always put others before herself and took care of countless people throughout her life, and a few critters as well. Her life was a radiant example of what love truly looks like, lived with a beautiful heart big enough for everyone she knew. She truly lived up to her name Jewell: one of a kind. She will be missed, but not forgotten.

She is preceded in death by her father Neil, mother Clysta, and brother Rick. She is survived by her brothers Merl and Larry, sister Luanne, husband Kim, children Travis, Heather, Crissi, Tell, Hadlee and Gracie, and several grandchildren, nieces, nephews and soon to be great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 10th, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ~ Howe branch building in Howe, Idaho, with a viewing for one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Howe Cemetery under the direction of the Anderson Family Funeral Home.