Juanita B. (Bufford) Brisbin

It was time for her to say good bye to this world and hello to the next adventure! 

Juanita B. Brisbin, 75, of Nampa, passed away at her home on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Her life started in Bakersfield, California… Kern County, on August 24th 1941 the third child born to Bernard Riley and Hattie Lee (Bullard) Bufford. She was always called by her father, “ his baby girl”.  

At the age of 12 years old, Juanita’s family moved from Bakersfield to Nampa, Idaho… to a farm on Karcher Road. She attended Maple Grove grade school, a very small school, only three rooms, and the desks were screwed to the floors. It was the first time for Juanita to see snow! At the age of 14 she started working at the A & W Root Beer Stand in Caldwell , Idaho.  She worked every summer until she graduated from High School and then from Superior Western Beauty College. Juanita loved being a “Car Hop”.  She held the record of working longer at A & W han any other car hop.  During High School Juanita enjoyed singing in the choir and several smaller groups. 

In May 1960, Juanita was introduced to Marshall N. Brisbin and after six months were married in Caldwell, Idaho at the Baptist church.  Marshall and Juanita were blessed with two wonderful sons, Victor Lee arriving in Oct. 1961 and Val John arriving in June  1964.  She so enjoyed being their mother and watching them grow to be great men.  Marshall and Juanita had 56 great years together.

They moved from Caldwell to Nampa in 1968 so Marshall could start his life long career with the Nampa Police Department.  In 1973 Juanita started her career in banking with the Bank of Idaho, earning several awards for sales and customer service.  During her working years she worked at several different banks ending her career at First Security Bank with 17 years of service.  She loved “her customers”  and many of them became very close friends.

After her retirement, she missed being around people so she attended a “Clown College” in Boise and became Doc Tweedles the clown.  What fun she had clowning for parties, banquets, hospitals, nursing homes, birthday parties and church parties.   Juanita had fun teaching three grand-children to clown with her.  She was very proud of the time they got to entertain together. She loved making balloon animals for the young and old.

January 2012, Juanita started a new journey, one that changed her life .  She had stage three breast Cancer.  What a year.. losing her hair, and both breasts, while going through Chemo and Radiation.. but through it all met some very brave people and wonderful doctors and nurses.  Cancer returned in the fall of 2016 and while she was able to fight for awhile, she lost the battle, accepting the Lord’s Plan.  Marshall was the best support partner anyone could have wanted.  He worked so hard to make sure that she made it.  The love of her life.

The added joy to her life were her six grandchildren: Amber Grice (Rob), Megan Harrison (Ryan), Katie Miles (Thomas), Haley Prow (Josh), Jordan and Dylan Brisbin.  Then more wonderful blessings were the 6 great-grandchildren: Layla, Bentley, and Tucker Miles, Twins Aiden and Kelen Harrison and Iris Harrison. To hold those little ones was such a thrill for Juanita. 

It was hard to say good bye to her sweet family, her husband Marshall Brisbin of Nampa, sons Victor Lee (Lorie) Brisbin, Alexandria, Virginia and Val John (Stephanie) Brisbin,  Melba, Idaho. Juanita’s two sisters Ella Jane Kock, Spokane, Washington and Eva Joyce Weaver, Yakima, Washington and brother Bernard Riley (Betty) Bufford,  Boise, Idaho.   She wanted to list all her nieces and nephews and cousins, they were all very special to her and her many special friends.  

The family wishes to thank Harrison’s Hope Hospice for their love and care given to Juanita and her family in the last few weeks of her life.

A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate Juanita’s life will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at the Nampa First Church of the Nazarene, 601 16th Ave. So. – Services are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave. So. – Nampa – 442-8171. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com 

I pray that we will meet again. Bye for now, Juanita

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