Hyla Anne Hitchcock

Hyla Anne Hitchcock, 90, a Presbyterian, passed away April 12, 2025, surrounded by music, friends and family in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

She was born June 16, 1934, to Robert Carl and Myrtle Gladys Schmeling in Republic, Washington.

Hyla attended Bremerton Business College and began her work in Civil Service at Bremerton Naval Shipyard, all as a single parent of three children. In 1961 she married Paul Raymond Hitchcock. They were transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where Hyla worked in the Civil Service and the Red Cross, assisting the families of deceased soldiers in returning to the mainland. She was very empathetic to their needs, as her husband was a Marine serving in Viet Nam. Hyla worked as a clerk in Lewiston City Hall and in the Goodwill Boutique before beginning a career as an Avon Beauty Consultant. She was a member of the President’s Club, earning many awards and creating lifelong friendships. After 33 passionate years with Avon, she retired at the age of 80.

Hyla enjoyed gardening and leading Campfire Girls. She held positions in the Lewiston DAVA Chapter, eventually becoming the last Commander of that Chapter.

Along with her parents, Hyla was preceded in death by her ex-husbands, Elden Lawrence Lounsberry Sr. and Paul Raymond Hitchcock; Hyla’s siblings Leah Katheryn Mahrt, Dorothea Louise Berg, Janice Elaine Brinkley-Calene, William August and George Albert Schmeling; granddaughter, Wanda Rose Tingelstad.

Hyla is survived by her children, Elden Lawrence, Elizabeth Marie, David LeRoy Lounsberry, Paula Anne Parkhurst and Judith Lynn Hitchcock; eleven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, Idaho 83854 on Friday, April 25 at 1;00 p.m., public viewing noon-1. Graveside services at the Republic Cemetery in Republic, Washington on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.

These services will be recorded and streamed live. In the event the service is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire service will be uploaded and available to view later in the day.