Posted: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:00 pm
July 19, 1915 - June 17, 2008
Maxine Evelyn Willett Humphrey, 92, of Albany died Tuesday in Albany.
She was born in Myrtle Point, the only child of George and Olga Post Willett. The family came to live at the Oakville Farm in Shedd w
hen Maxine was six months old. She lived there until college. Her elementary schooling was at Bell Plain and Oakville schools. She rode her pony to the one room Bell Plain School to attend grades one through three and she attended Oakville school grades fo
ur through eight.
She rode on the Oregon Electric train to attend Albany High School prior to college. She attended Oregon State University, then transferred to Western Oregon University (then Oregon Normal School) and graduated in 1935. She taught element
ary and kindergarten students for 25 years in Tangent, Albany and Fairmont. She married Cecil Humphrey Sept. 4, 1937 in Oakville.
Maxine was active in community and church activities. She accepted leadership roles in the First United Methodist Church and F
irst Church of God. She sang in the Methodist choir 15 years, taught Sunday school for many years, and was a local lay delegate to Methodist Idaho Conference for 15 years.
Maxine and her beloved Cecil were made honorary members of the Albany Chamber of Com
merce. In 1998 Maxine was honored by the Chamber with the Distinguished Service Award. She was a Rotary Ann when Cecil was a Rotarian for 40 years. They chaired many events. She participated in serving at the Veteran's Day breakfast for 40 years.
Maxine wa
s a long-time supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and worked tirelessly in the Calapooia District. She was honored with the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor given to an adult volunteer. She was also awarded the James E. West Fellow Award, a Nation
al Boy Scout's of American award.
She served on the first school board of Santiam Christian School and worked on many projects for the Albany School District.
Maxine enjoyed flower gardening, music activities, reading, church leadership, Boy Scout commitme
nts, her family, and her home of 64 years.
Maxine is survived by her sons, Sylvan and wife Bonny of Roseburg and Loren and wife Cindy, all of Albany; grandchildren Trish Straub and husband David of Redding, Calif., and Aaron, David and Michael of Albany; g
reat-grandchildren Jackey and Thom Straub; great-great-grandchild Abbey Straub of Redding; and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil.
Maxine requested a private memorial service for immediate family only.
Friends and family may
give memorials to Calvary Community Church, Oakville Presbyterian Church, where Maxine spent her youth, First Church of God, Boy Scouts of America Endowment Fund Cascade, East Linn Christian Academy, or Santiam Christian Schools, in care of Fisher Funeral
Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321 (www.fisherfuneralhome.com).