Ethel Mae Honeycutt

Ethel Mae Firkins Honeycutt, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2025. Born on October 13, 1931, in Lima, Montana, to James Firkins and Dorothy Drowns Firkins, Ethel spent her early years in Montana before her family relocated to Pocatello in 1935. She was soon joined by her brothers, James Jr. and Harvell.

Ethel attended school through the 6th grade and later worked at Kress’s. A spirited and adventurous soul, she rode with the Silver Sage Riding Club and was an avid barrel racer, showcasing her love for horses and the outdoors.

On July 15, 1950, she married Mathew Don Honeycutt, the love of her life. Together, they made their home in Pocatello, in 1959 they moved up Pocatello Creek Road, where they raised their family and built a life filled with love and hard work.

Their children, Barbara (William Fritch) was born in 1951 and Jeff (Vicki Jackman) was born 1956, raised up Pocatello Creek with love and lots of hard work, never moving far from the family roots.

Ethel and Matt shared a life rich in simple pleasures—ran a junk yard up the creek, scrapping metal, junking cars. Started cutting and selling timber and fire wood, coal. Raised pigs, goats, sheep and of course chickens and farming. Ethel’s love for hunting, fishing, and family vacations created countless treasured memories. Their home was a warm gathering place, filled with laughter and love.

Ethel loved raising pigs and sheep and selling them at live stock sale in Blackfoot. She would get day old bread to feed them or to the schools to get the slop to feed the pigs.

She was a skilled driver; she handled their converted motor home bus with ease. While in Island Park doing timber sales, she loved to cook Dutchoven fried chicken and all the fixings. She would drive an old INL bus with all the family over the hill to Jackson where they would go see live plays. She may have been small but she was a fire cracker.

Ethel taught Dorothy and Holly to drive a stick shift in Island Park. The old ford pickup she was teaching them in had a rusted-out floor board and they would race through puddles sharing their laughter.

Her playful side shone through moments like feeding Cindy mush by the Island Park reservoir, by the time they were done, Ethel was drunk and Cindy wore more mush than she ate. Thats how Ethel was with all her kids, teaching them lessons while enjoying life.

Ethel’s legacy is carried on by her three granddaughters, Dorothy Nelson, Holly (Dan) Roberts, and Cindy (Dustin) Peterson, and her eight grandchildren: Shaundra (Tayson) Larsen, Stillman (Kelly) Robinson, Glen (Rita) Weaver, Cheyenne Robinson, Stalon (Teressa) Robinson, Garrett (Alysha) Weaver, Bailey (Taylor) Peterson, Audrey (Devin) Cross, along with two bonus grandsons, Derek (Morgan) Roberts and Tanner (Shayla) Roberts. She played an active and loving role in raising all of her grandchildren, nurturing each one with care and devotion. Her family continues to grow with twelve great-grandchildren, each deeply loved by Ethel.

After the tragic loss of her beloved husband Mathew in 1998, Ethel found companionship with Bill McGhee in 2002, who has been her partner since.They have had many exciting adventures together. They spent many winters in Arizona with Jeff and Vicki, trips to Florida with Barbs and Will.

Ethel, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma will be remembered for her unwavering love for her family, her strength, and her generous spirit. She touched the lives of all who knew her, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, resilience, and family unity. Though deeply missed, she remains forever in the hearts of those who loved her.

She is dearly missed but forever cherished in the hearts of her loved ones.

Visitation: September 19, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM at Manning Wheatley Funeral Home 510 N 12th Ave.

Graveside Service: September 20, 2025, at 2 PM at Mountain View Cemetery 1520 S 5th Ave.

A gathering will follow at Jeff’s shop 8409 W Pocatello Creek Road, to celebrate Ethel’s life. Lunch will be served.