Emmy Lou Fairfield, 91, Moyie Springs, passed away at home surrounded by her family on October 13, 2025, at the age of 91. A Rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 7, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 13327 US-2, Troy. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will take place at the Troy Cemetery directly after Mass, followed by a lunch at the church.
Emmy Lou Wyckoff was born in Seattle in 1934. She was the only child of Luther J. Wyckoff Jr. and Edith Louis (Summers) Wyckoff. Emmy Lou’s grandparents, Luther J. Wyckoff Sr. and June McKay, formerly a vaudeville actor and a classical violinist, farmed lavender in the Olympia area of Washington state.
Emmy’s family moved to San Francisco when she was a child. She attended school in the “Golden Gate City” and was trained in classical piano. After graduating from Polytechnic High School, Emmy entered Saint Joseph’s College of Nursing, San Francisco. During her time at St. Joseph’s, Emmy became a member of the Catholic Church.
She received her nursing degree and became a registered nurse. She began her nursing career in San Luis Obispo, California, while her husband finished his college career and played football. Together they raised eight children.
Never meant to be a city girl, Emmy chose to raise her large family in the country with horses, livestock, pets and chickens. She continued her nursing career while gardening, canning, cooking and caring for children and animals.
In the late 1980s, Emmy met and married Richard Fairfield. After her last child left the home, Emmy and Richard relocated to the Moyie Springs area, where they owned and operated the Sweetwater Ranch.
Emmy continued to work as a nurse at the Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry. Following retirement, Emmy spent her days helping out at the farm, gardening, raising a large flock of chickens and enjoying friends, neighbors and family. She most enjoyed cooking, canning and preserving, gardening, her chickens and huckleberry picking.
Emmy Lou was preceded in death by an infant son. She is survived by her husband, Richard Fairfield, Moyie Springs, children Patrick (Irene) Moore, Atascadero, California, Robin (Mark) Saam, Colfax, Washington, Kathleen (Dan) Ducasse, Atascadero, Sharon (Jack) Wilson, Arvada, Colorado, Colleen (Shannon) Flentie, Erie, Colorado, Sally Moore, Los Angeles, and Mary Moore, San Luis Obispo, California, ten grandchildren and several greatgrandchildren.
Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting schnackenbergfh.com.
Condolances to Richard and the family. I loved working with Emmy Lou at the hospital. She was always cheerful. I used to run into her in the store but not for a long time.