Errol Arford, 81

Errol H. Arford, a longtime resident of the Silver Valley, peacefully passed into the arms of Jesus on Sept. 28, 2023, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, after suffering a long illness. He was born July 30, 1942, in Indianapolis, Ind., to Robert Arford and Regina Hatfield.

In 1967, he graduated from Indiana University with a master’s degree in social work. Go Hoosiers! In July of 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant, but shortly after, he became a captain in the Medical Service Corp at Fort Carson, Colo. As the chief social worker at the Army Community Service Center, he received the 5th Army Award for excellence, in 1967-1970, for developing an extensive social work program for military families. He selected and trained members of the ACS volunteer staff to utilize as family counselors. It won him official recognition from the Department of the Army and was a first in the Army Community Service Program. He also received another merit Army Commodation Medal for his hard work in 1970. He loved serving and was a true patriot until his passing.

Before enlisting in the Army, he signed a contract with the Children's Bureau in Indiana. After two years of working there, he accepted a position with the state of Idaho in Lewiston as a program coordinator/supervisor in Region II Mental Health working with the clinically mentally ill. He received a certificate for Distinguished Service from the governor of Idaho as a mental health team leader and coordinator of services for his efforts working on the Teton Flood disaster. He then became the mental health regional manager for a 5-county area and director of State Hospital North in Orofino. In 1981, he became an LCSW and a certified mental health examiner for the state of Idaho providing mental health examinations for the court system and continued even after retirement.

Errol was a field instructor for Indiana University Graduate School, Eastern Washington University Graduate School and Walla Walla Graduate Schools of Social Work. He loved teaching students the art of working with the mentally ill. In 1989, he became the mental health coordinator/supervisor of Shoshone and Benewah counties for the state of Idaho. After retirement, he decided it was time to give back to the community and opened his own mental health clinic. After seven years, he sold the clinic and worked for the new owner for three years. He also did therapy for the nursing homes in the Silver Valley. He was very gifted in mental health. He loved the job, the clients and the community.

He met the love of his life, Betty, whom he married on June 16, 1992, at the Cataldo Mission. They shared a passion for the outdoors, fly fishing and animals. They spent a lot of time in their favorite place, Yellowstone National Park and had many rescue cats, dogs and burrows. Errol’s greatest passion was fly fishing, which he lived and breathed. He had a guiding company called Kelly Kreek Outfitters. He loved tying his own flies. On their trips to Yellowstone, the fly-tying equipment always went along, and he would spend days fishing and watching the hatch and the evenings tying the perfect flies for the next day on the Lamar River or the Yellowstone River.

Errol was known for his sense of humor, his jokes, his storytelling and his pranks (especially at work). In the early days in Lewiston, he was known as Stiff Muldoon and put out a hilarious newsletter for a group of his fly-fishing buddies known as “The Brotherhood of The Secret Order of the Mystical Cutthroat Society.” Clearly a spoof, but they had a great time. He passed on his love of pranks and gag gifts to his grandkids. They loved playing pranks on Grandpa and couldn’t wait for Christmas to come around to buy and receive gag gifts. Although he will be missed, these traditions will live on.

On Sept. 22, 2023, Errol was presented with a Veterans Appreciation plaque by North Idaho Hospice and sponsored by 25 veterans organizations. He was so honored by the presentation. We are so proud of him.

Errol was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Regina Arford, and his brother, Doug Arford. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Betty Arford; children Kirk (Joycelyn) Arford and Stephanie Alvarado; stepchildren, Shayne Carver who has been a tremendous help, Chris Carver and Todd Carver. He is also survived by his four grandsons; Kobe Carver, Michael Alvarado (Dad Tony Alvarado), Kasen Carver and Jase Carver; great-granddaughter Sawyer Carver and his niece, Jennifer Lloyd.

He had a full life and loved his family so much, but most of all he loved the Lord. He is at peace now in a brand-new body and rejoicing with Jesus. We will see you again one day.

There will be no service at this time. The family suggests memorials to North Idaho Hospice or k9forwarriors.org.