Denise Rees

Denise Lynn Rees (Cramer) went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 29, 2021, at the age of 55.   She was a beautiful woman of God with immeasurable love for her family and friends.   She lived a selfless life for others, graciously extending love, compassion, wisdom and joy to everyone she knew.  Denise’s smile was radiant, and her spirit vibrant and happy.  She was a light in this world and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.  Denise, also known as “Nisee”, “Moma”, “Grandma” and “Sissy” lived a life filled with laughter, adventure, affection and love.  

Denise was born on October 6, 1966, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Dennis Cramer and Judy Novak (Cramer).   She lived in Buhl, Jerome and Payette, Idaho, before moving to Ontario, Oregon when she was 8.  Denise spent most of her childhood in Ontario, Oregon, attending Cairo Elementary School, Ontario Junior High and Ontario High School.  She and her two younger sisters, Diane Roy (Cramer) and Deena Jordan (Cramer) spent their childhood together on a farm/ranch with their mom in Ontario and in Buhl, Idaho with their dad.

The Kemble family came into Denise’s life shortly after she moved to Ontario.  Irvin B. and Donna Kemble became second parents to Denise and her sisters.  Grandpa Irvin A. and Grandma Evelyn Kemble became second grandparents.  The Kembles were a significant part of Denise’s life.  They introduced her to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and took her and her sisters to church their entire childhood, packing the family into their small car.      

Denise met her best friend Wendy Joyce (Kemble) in elementary school and they were inseparable.  They both shared blonde hair and blue eyes, joyful spirits and the love of Jesus.  Denise was baptized in the Snake River in 1980 with Wendy and her sister Vicki, just as Grandpa Kemble had been baptized when he was a teenager.

During high school, Denise was actively involved in her church, youth group and Christian Rodeo Club.  She loved music, singing and had a beautiful voice.  Choir was a huge part of her high school years and she also enjoyed performing on the dance team.  Her laughter and joy filled the halls of her high school.  She modeled and participated in scholarship beauty pageants.  Denise was incredibly smart, holding two jobs while graduating with honors.  After graduating high school in 1984, she moved to Buhl, Idaho, for a short time and then Morgan Hill, California, after meeting her future husband Douglass Eugene Rees, Jr.

Denise and Doug, Jr. met at her going away party after high school graduation.  Doug, Jr. was a cousin to the Kemble family.  There were immediate sparks and shortly thereafter they were engaged.  Denise and Doug, Jr. were married on December 29, 1984, in Ontario, Oregon.  They lived a beautiful life together and had an incredible marriage of unwavering love, care and affection.  She was so very grateful for the love of the Rees family as they welcomed her into their family.  Their son Douglass Rees, III, was born in February 1986, when they lived in Morgan Hill, California and later Hollister, California.  In 1989, they moved to Twin Falls, Idaho and had their second son, Timothy Rees, in March 1992.   

Denise and Doug, Jr. cherished their boys and spent most of their time being engaged in their children’s lives, serving their church, and sharing their days with family and friends.   They loved having parties, inviting people over and sharing food and laughter together.  They resided in Twin Falls until moving to Meridian, Idaho in the mid-1990s.  Denise and Doug, Jr. lived in over 9 homes during their marriage and built 4 of the homes together.   In May of 2007, Doug, Jr. went to be with the Lord after battling brain

cancer.  The loss was significant for Denise and her boys.  Denise pushed through, working hard and providing for her family.  She continued living in Meridian and moved to Buhl, Idaho for a year before moving to North Texas in 2013 to be closer to her sister Deena, living in Frisco, McKinney and Plano from 2013 through 2021.   

In 2014, shortly after moving to Texas, Denise met her future husband Bart Pushaw.  He brought her the love and care she so needed after the loss of her first husband Doug, Jr., and likewise for him since Bart lost his first wife also.  On August 22, 2015, Denise and Bart were married.  They shared a deep love and companionship and lived life to the fullest, traveling to new places, going on adventures, helping others, dancing, hosting friends and family, and loving and giving to people in their lives and their community.  In April 2021, Denise was diagnosed with lymphoma with CNS involvement.  Bart’s unwavering love and care for her during treatments was so appreciated by her family.  

Denise was an amazing nurse who cared for her patients compassionately and found great joy and purpose helping others.  She worked in multiple nursing and medical positions throughout her career and found the most reward working in critical care in PACU.  She graduated with her Associates in Nursing from Boise State University, her Bachelors in Nursing from University of Texas, Arlington, and her Masters in Nursing from University of Texas, Arlington.  She worked while she completed all of her degrees.  Denise absolutely loved being a nurse and finished her Masters in May of 2021, after completing her clinicals to become a nurse practitioner in family care.  Her nursing extended to her family as she took calls day and night offering medical guidance with love and care whenever needed.

Denise could do almost anything and was an extremely hard worker.  She could wire a house, lay tile, trim and paint and much more thanks to learning how to build a home with her dad, a skilled carpenter/builder.  She was a creative and amazing cook and hostess and was great at making even the tastiest of meals on a dime when budgets were tight.  She loved potatoes and could make every kind of dish imaginable with them.  She cleaned everything with vinegar and her children won’t dare put vinaigrette on their salads even into adulthood.  Denise donned an evening gown with grace and beauty; she exemplified beauty both inside and out.  She participated in the Mrs. Idaho pageant and so loved wearing dresses, shoes and jewelry, and everything the color plum.     

Denise loved her family so well.  She asked for little and gave everything she could give.  She was an incredible mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, wife, aunt and friend.  Oh, how she so loved her boys with all her heart, in every stage of their lives.  She was so proud of the kind, brave, strong men they grew to be and of their wonderful wives, Jennifer Rees and Morgan Rees.   Her capacity to love was so great but somehow proved greater when her granddaughters arrived.  She took great delight in her two grandchildren, Caroline Rees and Olivia Rees, spending hours on Facetime enjoying their precious company, reading books and playing games when she could not be with them in person.   Denise loved being a stepmom to Aleah Carcano and her husband Chris Carcano, and B.C Pushaw, and adored her step grandchildren Jackson, Noah and Olivia Carcano.  

Denise and her dad, Denny, had a great friendship into adulthood.  They both looked alike, sharing blonde hair and blue eyes and similar features in their younger years.  They built a house together, and enjoyed skiing, hiking, caving, traveling, and enjoying each other’s care and company. 

She had a special relationship with her two sisters, Diane and Deena.  They all shared the same initials growing up, DLC, and were frequently called the 3D’s.  The love of the three sisters was unmatched.  Denise took on the role of caregiver at a young age while her mom was taking care of their farm/ranch. 

She shaped her sisters’ lives for the better; she was their protector, comforter, and best friend into adulthood.   Her mom passed away in 1993, when all three girls were in their 20s.  Denise had two half-sisters, Kimberly Potts (Cramer) and Melanie Cramer.  Kim and Melanie were several years younger than Denise, and she loved them dearly and enjoyed many special times with them.  Denise was so cherished by her brothers-in-law, Don Jordan and Jess Masonheimer, and her nieces and nephews.   Kalynn Davis, Brandon Roy, Brieanne Roy, Magan Jordan, Roxanne Jordan, Michaela Hall, McKenzie Hall, Owen Potts and Aspen Potts all have precious memories of their most awesome Aunt Nisee loving them so well. 

The Rees family was an important part of Denise’s life both during and after her marriage to Doug, Jr.  Doug Rees, Sr. and Janice Rees, her father- and mother-in-law, known as Mom and Dad Rees, were very special to her.  She had so many fun and memorable times with Mom and Dad Rees and her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Jeff and Kathy Campbell, Darren and Susan McDonald and the late Steve and Denise Jones Rees.  They all loved singing together and laughing incessantly at family gatherings.  Denise equally adored her nieces and nephews Daniel McDonald, Nathan McDonald, Kristine McDonald, Elizabeth Campbell, Michael Campbell, Tammy Gallant, Kathleen Swain, Curtis Rees, and David Rees and their families.

Denise’s love extended to her late grandparents Martin and Mildred Novak and Claude (Red) and Ella Cramer, both of Buhl, aunts and uncles, cousins, extended family, and many treasured friendships.  She always sent thoughtful cards for life events and so often sent gifts just because she loved you.  She was always thinking of others before herself.

Denise exemplified the love of her Savior during her life.  She walked in His goodness, His kindness, His mercy, and His eternal love.  She lived a life of faith and would want everyone to know the goodness of our God and how much He loved her and helped her.  The joy she exuded, the love she shared, and the kindness she offered are a testament of God’s love for us that she so deeply wanted the world to see.  

We love you so much Nisee, you made this world better, you made us better.  We miss you and we love you forever.

Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, December 13, 2021 at 10 am at the Christian Life Fellowship, Ontario.   Interment will follow at the Rosedale Memorial Gardens, Payette.

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