Dawn Ann (Sobieski) Noakes’ life was defined by love. She married James Clifton Noakes on August 11, 1956, and their marriage was a real-life example of Jesus’s Love. On November 6, 1934, Pearl and Frank Sobieski, who were living in Wisconsin at that time, were blessed with the birth of a beautiful girl. The family moved to the Idaho Falls area, and Dawn Ann learned her first life lessons from her five siblings — Ruth, Bud, Frances, Dee, and Jimmy. Dawn Ann loved school and was an excellent student cared deeply about helping others. She followed her mother’s footsteps into a career of nursing. With her abundance of love and caring for others, she made a career path change to be an awesome mother. Always ready for a challenge, she had four boys in less than six years — Alan, Steven, John, and Donald. She was a blessing to her boys and always stepped up when help was needed. She was a volunteer school nurse, den mother, little league organizer, and was always available to help with any activity associated with a household of boys. With her help, the boys matured and became more independent, and she returned to her career in nursing. She had the opportunity to support the introduction and use of ultrasound in OB-GYN health care. She finished out her career in family medicine and was the go-to expert on medical care for all her friends and family. The year 1990 was year of peaks and valleys. Her first grandchild was born, but the love of her life died suddenly. Dawn Ann was always a fighter and optimistic. With support from Central Church, family, and friends she went on as an example of how to love life and to how to love others. Her second career included being an active member and volunteer at Central Church.  She was a world traveler and loved sharing her adventures with family and friends. Her grandchildren renamed her “robot grandma” short term, after she broke her arm in New Zealand, was given a metal exoskeleton, and stayed in Seattle for recovery. Dawn Ann was very proactive and always available to help. Grandma was blessed with seven grandchildren: Elizabeth, Anthony, Sarah, Kathryn, Daniel, Spencer, and Christian. Their favorite summer activity was the family vacation to Lincoln City on the Oregon coast. In 2018 and 2020, Dawn Ann became a great-grandmother to Avery and Harper (Elizabeth’s daughters). They loved coming over to see their great-grandma, playing with her stuffed animals and tea set, and most of all having her read to them. Dawn Ann was blessed with a wonderful caretaker, her youngest son Donald. He was always ready to provide loving care, as she called out “DONALD, can you…?”

Three of her boys married and gave her the grandchildren she loved: Steven married Caroline Saunders (1985) and had five children (Elizabeth, Anthony, Kathryn, Daniel, and Christian; Alan married Paula Mulvey (1992) and had two children (Sarah and Spencer); and John married Katherine (Kit) Kiley (1992).

On December 22, 2024, Grandma passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. Our hearts are heavy, but we are comforted knowing she is wrapped in the loving arms of Jesus and is reunited with Grandpa Jim. We are blessed to have precious memories and life lessons learned, and we will be forever grateful. Rest in peace, until we meet again.