Luella Marie Nesbit

Luella Marie Nesbit—daughter of Jay and Beverly Jenkins of Iona, ID—left this world on June 15, 2025, under a sky lit with lightning, just the kind of dramatic exit she would’ve appreciated. It was as if the universe knew exactly who it was losing. She passed in Knoxville, TN, under the loving care of her daughter, Jackie, and Amedisys Hospice.

Marie fought a fearless, four-year battle with cancer, and while the disease eventually took her body, it never entered her spirit. She never gave up, never backed down, and never once stopped believing a miracle was right around the corner. That was Marie—resilient, stubborn as a mule, and wildly independent (whether you liked it or not).

She had a way of living that defied logic—planting flowers in the middle of tornado warnings, chasing storms for fun, or staying up all night binge-watching movies because sleep was optional. Life was never quiet with Marie, and certainly never boring. She was wicked smart, a jack of all trades, and always had a project (or three) going on. This world was her playground—and sometimes her battlefield—but she always lived it on the edge, full throttle.

Marie is survived by her three children: Jayson Peterson (Terrisa) of Boise, ID; Joey Buchholz (Elizabeth) of Idaho Falls, ID; Jackie Romo (Favian) of Knoxville, TN. She also has 11 grandchildren whom she regretfully leaves behind.

But it doesn’t stop there—Marie “adopted” many more children, grandchildren, and friends, along the way, claiming people as family whether or not there was any shared DNA. If Marie loved you, you were hers.

Marie loved hard, forgave often, and never took herself too seriously. Unless it involved Temu, then she was all in.

Per her wishes, there will be no funeral—because, in her words, “Funerals are boring and sad.” Instead, we invite you to join us in a celebration of her unique life, free spirit, and legendary sweet tooth.

Come celebrate Marie on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at Freeman Park – Shelter 2, at 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. This will be a casual, drop-in event. In true Marie fashion, we don’t expect anyone to be on time—she never was. Show up when you can and stay as long as you like. Leave the tears at home and bring your appetite for ice cream, sweets, and laughter—her favorite things.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to her incredible care teams at the Teton Cancer Institute, Tennessee Cancer Specialists, and Amedisys Hospice. Your compassion, support, and dedication meant the world to our family—and to Marie.

In place of flowers, because Marie says “they just die,” please consider donating to a charity of your choice. She always said, “One penny is all it takes to make a difference.”

She may have joined the stars, but her light is left shining upon us.