Colleen Durham

Colleen Deviny Durham passed away August 22 with family at her side. The eldest of eight tightly-knit siblings, Colleen was a highly-skilled cook and baker, expressing pride that she'd been raised in a family of foodies who loved to feed other people. As an adult, she carried on the tradition, regularly hosting elaborate gourmet dinners for holidays, life milestones, or just to celebrate apple season. Nightly meals were studies in vibrant hospitality, featuring recipes she'd glean from magazines, culinary shows, and the vast number of cookbooks on her shelves. Colleen delighted herself in gardening, letterboxing, exploring new places, and most of all her children and grandchildren. Creative and bright, Colleen was known for her knitting masterpieces, culinary concoctions, stylish taste, BOGGLE skills and uncanny ability to pick the perfect gifts. She was a Spokane resident for most of her life and volunteered everywhere from the Junior League to the Spokane Symphony and Ham on Regal. A devoted follower of Jesus, Colleen expressed her faith with her welcoming nature, generous spirit and non-judgmental ear. She made people feel special and, like her, her relationships were strong and genuine. Colleen's friendships extended to people with mental illnesses, those facing homelessness and poverty, and college students who were merely unlucky in love. She listened to and sympathized with them all, offering support in whatever way she could. Colleen's zeal and passion for life often left friends and family members finding themselves on spontaneous adventures like finding the best bushes for berry picking, and "yarn bombing" a public space to add an extra splash of color. Colleen's greatest legacy is the love she freely gave her many friends and family members. Her last 45 years were wrought with physical challenges, but she refused to let them define her. In turn her physical pain made the beauty of her spirit that much more special. Colleen is survived by her husband of 47 years, Doug Durham; by her children and children-in-law, Dan and Melina Durham and Deborah and Brian Johns; by all seven of her siblings, and by nieces, nephews, and grandchildren who will miss her the rest of their lives.