Mary Skouras Obituary

Mary George Skouras
May 30, 1940 - June 25, 2025
With heavy hearts and lives forever touched by her unwavering love and devotion, we say goodbye to our mother, Mary George Skouras, a longtime resident of Weiser, Idaho who passed away peacefully on June 25, 2025 in Meridian, Idaho at the age of 85.
Mary was born on May 30,1940 in Lamia, Greece to John and Dimitra (Halatsa) Agrafiotou. She loved playing with her sister and cousins at the ocean or their country home "Kastelia" throughout her childhood. She also worked darning nylons, tailoring and other jobs. She helped her dad during elections and continued her community involvement by working during elections in Weiser for many years. She married George Christos Skouras in Lamia, Greece on December 18, 1960, and being the adventurer she was, she moved to the United States and they settled in Weiser, Idaho. She found her home and heart in the warmth of the Weiser community and especially her Greek friends.
Her spirit was as rich and warm as the meals she lovingly prepared. Mom would wake up every day with a smile and put together the most stylish outfits and then put on her famous blue apron and start cooking. She wouldn't stop until bedtime except for the occasional viewing of "Days of our Lives". She loved to visit and had many pop-in visitors who were always welcomed with a smile and a meal. She left us in the same way she lived, selfless, joyful, hopeful and surrounded by love. The memories of our mom will be with us forever.
Memories of Mom winning Quizmaster on KWEI Radio in Weiser several times a week and then driving to pick up the prize of a 6 pack of soda was a highlight. Following the soda pick-up, we would make our rounds visiting their Greek friends. Memories of each of their houses and seeing their gardens and what projects they were working on was something else. They all shared from their gardens and Mom was a brilliant gardener and could make anything grow. She would get cuts from her friends and two weeks later it was in a pot growing. She was a walking Farmer's Almanac.
Mom loved being a part of the Greek Orthodox Church in Boise, Idaho. She was welcomed with open arms. Her devotion to her faith was unwavering. She had the prettiest voice and would sing the hymns with such feeling and then hum them all day long. She would burn incense at home and pray all day. For several years, services were held once a month. We had to be in the Chevy Nova bright and early to make it on time and then of course there was coffee "hour" downstairs.
Together with Dad, they raised us and built a life filled with love and commitment and there was never any doubt that we were loved. The house was always overflowing with family and friends and the kind of laughter that echoes throughout generations. Mom was devoted to her family and loved playing with her children, grandchildren and great grandchild. She would play games, was a great storyteller, gave magical back tickle-rubs, and remembered details of what each child loved. She would make pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner if that's what the grandkids wanted. She would chat with the kids and truly listened to everything they were saying. She delighted in a surprise ballet performance by her great-granddaughter in her kitchen, and felt a soft nostalgia watching videos of her granddaughter, Erica's bunnies, reminding her of her own childhood companions she rarely spoke of.
Mom loved animals and she and Dad would care for all of the animals with such attention to detail. The barn was cleaned daily and the level of organization was unbelievable. Once she moved to Boise, she had a new group of animals. She was the beloved sidekick to her Grand-pups, Lila and Cali. Lila shared a special bond with her. Lila knew the route straight to Yiayia's place and Yiayia had her toys in a basket ready for her. She would smile and laugh at Lila's "special" smile. Cali would lay by Yiayia and loved the way she would just pet and pet her the entire time we were all chatting. Mom loved quail and all of the birds. She and Dad had a birdhouse in Weiser and it was like a drive-thru! Mom had brilliantly designed a way to catch the birdseed that would have otherwise fallen into the grass. She attached an upside-down umbrella to the house and then used that birdseed.
Mom was always up for an adventure and had a little travel suitcase ready in case a friend or one of her kids called her for an impromptu trip. She also would say "let's go for a drive", which meant there was already an expertly packed cooler in the car and off we would go. Sometimes we would just drive and then pull over and eat by the river, then continue our journey. Whether it was a quiet afternoon in her garden or listening to the birds, a fishing trip to Mann Creek or Riggins, she soaked in life's beauty with sparkling eyes. McCall and Cuprum were amongst her favorites, especially when they included lamb roasts and family barbeques where stories were shared and laughter overflowed.
It is as though we grew up in the original Farm-to-Table home. Everything we ate was grown by Mom and Dad. The food was always delicious and never a short cut taken. She would hand roll her phyllo for the spanakopita and baklava. She was talented in so many ways. She had patience that you don't see every day. The back of her needlework, sewing and quilting was just as pretty as the front. The knots were not coming out! She also made and donated crocheted booties for the newborns at Weiser Memorial Hospital complete with pink or blue ribbons. She was the most modest person you would meet. She never bragged and just did what was right. Mom made every day a special day.
Mary is survived by her sister, Niki, of Lamia, Greece; three daughters: Georgia Thorstenson of Herndon, Virginia; Jahna O'Sullivan of Boise, Idaho; Lana Ellsworth of Boise, Idaho; five grandchildren: Kari (Thorstenson) Darsch; Erica (Thorstenson) Newkirk; Quinn, Zoe, and Eden O'Sullivan; and one great-grandchild, Claire Darsch. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; and her sons, Chris and James.
A service will be held at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Boise on Saturday, July 19, at 10:00 a.m., with burial to follow at 1:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in Weiser, Idaho. A reception will follow the burial at the Beacon Venue in Weiser. Tributes and condolences may be left with Cloverdale Funeral Home at www.cloverdalefuneralhome.com or may be sent to Georgia Thorstenson, 2623 New Banner Lane, Herndon, VA 20171. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Boise, Idaho, or to a charity of your choice.
If you were lucky enough to have known Mary Skouras for a day, a month, years, or her entire life, you were blessed. May her memory be eternal.
We love you and miss you! Love, all your Honey Bunches.
"A beautiful lady who was devoted to family and friends, had a gift for storytelling and hospitality and was always up for adventures."