Brittanie Nicole Checketts

Brittanie Nicole Checketts passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise at the age of 15. Brittanie lived a full life in spite of her rare autonomic disorder, ROHHAD syndrome. She was a beloved granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, and cousin who made a great impact on her community of Mountain Home.

Brittanie was born May 24, 2005, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Paul Riley Checketts and Carren Cheyenne Checketts. Brittanie had a huge heart and loved her family and animals. She went from being a quiet little girl in elementary school to a blossoming social butterfly in junior high and high school, giving high fives in the hallway and saying hello to everyone she passed. Brittanie was always thinking of others and often acted as a protective mama, especially for special needs kids and classmates, making sure they were safe and out of harm’s way. Brittanie was just beginning her sophomore year at Mountain Home High School. She enjoyed choir, arts, crafts and sculptures and absolutely loved lunch. She was also an avid chocolate seller, often outselling her classmates in school fundraisers, relishing the opportunity to talk with friends and soon-to-be friends alike.

Brittanie will be missed by her adored pets, including Squeakers the chihuahua, Sandy the boxer, Susan the chicken, Romeo the rooster, many bunnies (especially Flop), Garfield and Mister Cat. She is survived by her parents Paul Riley Checketts and Carren Cheyenne Checketts, siblings Cheyenne Gloe, Jeffrey and Jason Checketts, Joseph Bruegman, and Sean, Ryan, and Liza Islas, as well as her grandfather Gerald Wayne Gose, her aunts, uncles and cousins. Brittanie’s long-time nurses Rachel Warren and Kelly Westhart and caregiver Kimberly Billinger became part of the family. Brittanie is preceded in rest by her grandparents Richard F. and Barbara Ann Checketts, grandmother Diana Lynn Copper, uncle Richard Lee Checketts, and aunt Tracy Jeanne Checketts.

Brittanie’s memorial will be held at 10:00am, on Saturday, September 5, 2020, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, and burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. The services will be officiated by Pastor Scott Cornwall of Caldwell. Flowers and cards may be sent to Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

For those wishing to support Brittanie’s family through these difficult times, donations may be sent to Rost Funeral Home or to the GoFundMe site (gofundme.com/f/brittanie-checketts). Her family would also be grateful for donations made to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald Charities of Idaho.

Brittanie’s family thanks the many friends, neighbors, teachers, aides, nurses, doctors, and paramedics who have provided support throughout her journey.