Bernyce M. McCormick

Bernie was born Nov. 16, 1914, in Nampa, to Frank and Myrtle Baum. She was the eldest of five brothers and one sister and was later adopted by relatives Leona and James Murray of Boise.

After graduating from high school, she attended Boise Junior College and Links Business College.

She married Ted Lehmann of Baltimore in December 1943 and lost the love of her life when Capt. Lehmann was shot down over Italy in World War II. On Dec. 25, 1945, she married James E. McCormick and, after 14 years, the marriage ended in divorce.

After her divorce, she moved from Weiser, Idaho, to Seattle, where she graduated from Dobney School for Doctor's Assistants as a certified medical transcriptionist. Two days later, she began her 22-year career with the Laboratory of Clinical Medicine, which later changed its name to Puget Sound Institute of Pathology. The day after her retirement from Puget Sound, she was offered employment with Virginia Mason Clinic, which she accepted and worked for two years. While working at Virginia Mason, Bernie was diagnosed with breast cancer, and after a successful recovery she moved to Lewiston to be near her children and son-in-law.

Always energetic, she worked part time at the Fig Leaf and for several years and was a volunteer at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Mother loved her home and yard and was very particular. One leaf on the yard was one too many. People would often stop and comment how nice her place looked, which only gave her more incentive to keep everything in top-notch shape. One fall day, son-in-law Gerald Giedt stopped by to find her at 83 years of age sweeping leaves off the roof.

Throughout the years, mother had a number of cats that just happened to be walking by and decided to take up residence, much to her children's dismay. The cats did, however, provide her companionship and a lot of laughs, and she loved them dearly.

Mother was a member of the Magnolia Lutheran Church in Seattle and later the Trinity Lutheran Church of Lewiston.

Survivors include her daughter, Olivia Giedt of Lewiston; her son, Richard McCormick and his wife Leslie of Lenore; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Bernie was preceded in death by her birth parents, adoptive parents, brothers, sister, adoptive sister and son-in-law.

At mother's request, there will be a private family graveside service at a later date. Cremation has already taken place.