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End of an era in Canyon County: new County Coroner sworn in Monday

Posted at 6:33 PM, Jan 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-14 20:41:24-05

On Monday, county governments swear their newly elected and re-elected officials into office.

In Canyon County, Jennifer Crawford will take over as the new County Coroner, replacing Vicki Degeus-Morris who has served as coroner for around 28 years. As one of Idaho's few female coroners, Degeus Morris said when she first began her career, her biggest challenge was being accepted into the predominantly male profession--even by the man who was coroner at the time.

"He laughed and said, 'Women can't be coroners.' And that was back in '85 -- '84, '85. And I said, 'You don't know that. I don't know that. So hire me and, if I can't do it, I'll walk away.' So he hired me and then, three years later, he made me hischief deputy. And in '90, he says, 'I want you to take over. I'm retiring.' And I said, 'What happened to women can't be coroners?' And he said, 'You changed my mind. If you want it, I'll help you get elected," Degeus-Morris said.

She says running for office was one of the best decisions she ever made, but will now spend more time with her family.