Issac Cortabitarte

Isaac "Ike" Cortabitarte Isaac "Ike" Cortabitarte passed away on January 26, 2011 in Arizona at the age of 93. He was born on February 24, 1917 in Jordan Valley, Oregon to Basque immigrant parents from Spain, Estaquio and Claudia Lecertua Cortabitarte. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. Ike was raised in his beloved Jordan Valley, a place he reminisced about with many fond memories. Ike joined the Navy in 1942 and served until 1945. He was particularly proud of having served aboard the USS Louisville. While serving in the military, he married Mary (Mer) Zatica on February 13, 1945. They made their first home in Jordan Valley where their children Rosemary and Tom were born. Growing up during the Great Depression, he learned quickly the value of hard work and took full advantage of the opportunity to build a better life for his family. In 1952, the family moved to Marsing, Idaho where he opened the Marsing Barber Shop. The hair style in the 60's was a "crew cut". It wasn't unusual for Ike to buzz through 35 customers on a busy Saturday. And it wasn't uncommon for his friends from Jordan Valley to stop by Ike and Mer's house on Main Street to ask Ike for an "after hours" haircut. He always obliged. The Barber Shop was a great meeting place for all of the men in the community. Many "tales" were told there as customers were getting their 75 cent haircut in those days. Getting a shave from Ike was always special. The Barber Shop was the place in town to catch up on the latest news both national and local. Here you could always learn if the fish were biting on East Creek or where a rancher had seen a big 4-point buck near Jordan Valley just prior to the start of deer season. Ike was at his best either hunting or fishing. When you talked hunting with Ike his face held the excitement of a young child. No one enjoyed the challenge of the hunt more than he. During his later years, he always asked about the deer hunting in Jordan and the pheasant hunting near Marsing. After his retirement, Ike became an institution around town. He had his daily routine down pat, having coffee, then moving to the Snake River Mart to catch up, then over to the Busted Knuckle and then off to Senior Citizens for lunch. He had his own chair to sit in and "hold court" at Harvey's and Ruth's vegetable stand, as his family would say. Ike loved to visit and his friends enjoyed his company. Ike and Mer moved to Arizona in 2006 to be closer to their children. He appreciated the great care he received from the staff at La Loma Care Center in Litchfield Park. He made wonderful friends there. He also cherished the lifelong friends from Jordan Valley and his trusted neighbors in Marsing. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Joe Cortabitarte and wife Marie of Boise, ID; brother Jess and sisters Pilar and Agueda Cortabitarte of Meridian, ID. He is survived by his wife Mer of 66 years; daughter Rosemary and husband Glenn Saul and son Tom Cortabitarte all of Goodyear AZ. He is also survived by grandson Tom Schumacher and great-granddaughters Shelbi and Sophia of Huntington Beach, CA; grandson Tony Cortabitarte and great-grandchildren twins Miranda and Jackson of Chandler, AZ; granddaughter Angie Cortabitarte and great-granddaughter Skylar of Oakland, CA; nephew Jack Cortabitarte (Belinda) of Boise, ID, brother in law Jim Zatica of Jordan Valley, OR, Paul Zatica (Jean) of Homedale, ID , sister in law Sola Staley of Vale, OR, and many beloved nephews, nieces and treasured friends. Service Information