Arlene Virginia DeMars

Longtime Jerome, Idaho resident Arlene Virginia DeMars passed away on the morning of January 22, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones.

Arlene DeMars, youngest of three children, was born July 14, 1931 to Fines and Fern Ambrose in Wendell, Idaho. She spent her childhood years in a stone house in Jerome with her siblings Tommy and Rosemary. During World War II her father rejoined the Marines, and the family relocated to Hawthorne, Nevada where she graduated from Mineral County High School in 1949.

While in Hawthorne she met Ronald DeMars, whom she married on September 19, 1949. They moved to Arizona where they had two children, Kathleen and Alan. The entire family lived in England between 1956 and 1959 before moving to California. From 1962 until 1981, they lived in Lompoc, where Arlene worked for nineteen years as an Administrative Assistant for the Lompoc Unified School District. 

In 1981, after their retirement, Ron and Arlene moved to Jerome, Idaho to be close to Arlene’s mother and father, aunts and uncles, and other extended family. Her husband of 46 years, Ron, passed away in 1996. 

In 1999, Arlene met Verdis Larsen, widow of one of Arlene’s school friends. They were inseparable for the next 15 years before Verdis passed away in 2014. During their relationship Arlene and Verdis spent time with both of their families, hiked many trails throughout Idaho, traveled, and enjoyed the outdoors. 

Arlene loved fiber arts, the outdoors, technology, and travel. She was active in her church. As a lover of technology and an early expert in Microsoft Word, Arlene was responsible for the monthly church newsletter. Arlene was a member of the Jerome First Presbyterian Church, the Women’s Circle, and the Goldenrod Club. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 46 years, Ronald DeMars; her longtime partner Verdis Larson; her brother, Tommy Ambrose; and her sister, Rosemary Thornburg. She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen (Gary); her son, Alan (Bernie); her granddaughters, Erin, Andrea and Julianne; her extended family, Kristi Bourgeois, Andrea Chojnacky, Teri Kluender and Steve Larson, and their children and grandchildren.

A Celebration of Arlene’s Life will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church of Jerome, with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to: First Presbyterian Church of Jerome, 262 E Avenue A, Jerome, ID. 83338 or Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17., Chicago, IL 60601.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Arlene’s memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.