Christine "Chris" D'Arcy Denton

Christine "Chris" Denton, of Nampa, Idaho, fun-loving and beloved wife, mother, YiaYia (Greek for grandmother), and dear friend, passed away on August 13, 2024, at the age of 84, due to complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 20, 1939, Chris lived a vibrant life full of the beauty she created along with friends and family she held dear. 

Chris married the infamous Robert “Bullitt Bob" Denton, on February 29, 1964, in Twin Falls, Idaho. Their 60-year marriage was a testament to their mutual respect for each other and their enduring tolerance of each other’s unusual senses of humor, creating a unique life rich in family, adventurous communities, and a shared love of loyal friends who became chosen family. Together, they raised two exceptional daughters, Robyn Finlayson and Heather Denton-Richard, who, along with their husbands Frank Finlayson and Bradley Richard, blessed Chris with four fabulous grandchildren: Kaitlyn and Frank Finlayson Jr., and Béla and Drake Richard. 

Christine D’Arcy was born to Hallie Marguerite Jones of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Kyriakos “Charles” Katris D’Arcy of Salt Lake City, Utah, along with older sister, Kathryn, and younger sister, Irene. Her father, an immigrant from Kymi, Greece, who passed through Ellis Island on the way to the mines of southern Utah, sadly passed away when Christine was just 14 months old. Her mother moved the girls back to Idaho from Utah to be closer to her parents and was later remarried to Jim Foster, who became a beloved and doting stepfather to Christine and her sisters. Chris grew up in the Twin Falls area, living the life of a small-town farm girl in rural Idaho. 

A graduate of Twin Falls High School, Chris furthered her education at Boise Junior College and later pursued her passion for design at Cliff Mann Floral School in Denver, Colorado. Her talent and dedication as a florist took her to many cities, including Salt Lake City, Utah, Pocatello, Idaho, Billings, Montana, and Boise, Idaho, where Chris and Bob permanently settled and raised their two daughters. In 1979, Chris realized her dream of owning her own flower shop and opened "Chris's Floral Bouquet" in Nampa, Idaho, where she served the community with her artistic floral creations for 29 years before retiring in 2008, capping a 50-plus year career in the flower business. 

Chris's contributions to her community were not limited to her floral expertise. She generously donated her floral services to various causes throughout the Treasure Valley, leaving a lasting impact on those around her. Her support extended to her husband's passions as well; she was an enduring supporter of the local skydiving community and a dedicated member of the Porsche Club of America, Silver Sage Region. 

In her personal life, Chris was an avid gardener, sharing her love for flowers and plants with everyone she encountered. Her garden was a reflection of her artistry, and she found joy in bringing beauty to the world around her. She was also a lover of antiques and often could be found perusing local shops during her retirement. 

Chris is survived and greatly missed by her husband, Bob Denton of Nampa, Idaho; daughters: Robyn Finlayson (husband Frank) of Boise, Idaho, and Heather Denton-Richard (husband Bradley) of Marietta, Georgia; grandchildren: Kaitlyn Finlayson of Sacramento, California, Frank Finlayson Jr. of Boise, Idaho, Béla Richard of Los Angeles, California, and Drake Richard of Marietta, Georgia. She is also survived by sister, Kathy Zagata of Buhl, Idaho, and many Greek cousins who reside in the Salt Lake City, Utah, area. 

A celebration of Chris's life will be held at Edwards Greenhouse Legacy Garden in Boise, one of her favorite places, on September 28, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. An interment ceremony will be held at Sunset Memorial Park in Twin Falls at a later date. Friends and loved ones are invited to join in raising a glass of her favorite red wine to honor Chris and the life she lived so well. She and her engaging smile will be deeply missed but her friendship, generosity, kindness, creativity and humor will always be remembered by those who knew and loved Chris “The Saint” Denton.