Mary 'Maxine' James Darley
June 17, 1928 – February 24, 2016
There is an old saying “It rained cats and dogs and squalling babies...” On such a night Mary “Maxine” James was born on a small farm near Benedict, Kan. The storm was so bad that the doctor, having traveled though blinding rain, thunder, lightning and very muddy, bumpy roads to get to their home, apparently had to take some of his own medicine after such a terrorizing ride.
Maxine’s parents, George Ernest James and Nancy Mary Cruzan Sparks, had both been married before and respectively lost their spouses in the flu epidemic of 1918. They combined their 10 children and added five more (one dying at birth) to their herd.
In 1943, Maxine’s family moved to Rupert, Idaho. Maxine excelled in school, was an honor student and cheerleader, twirled a baton and loved music. She sang at many occasions with her younger siblings. She was employed by the telephone company as an operator after being recommended by her school principal. World War II broke out and Maxine took it upon herself to write to every hometown boy in the service. She married one of these boys, Leo “Keith” Darley, upon his return, after an eventful courtship. They were married on Aug. 11, 1947 and have celebrated 68 years of marriage. There were blessed with two children: Gary Keith Darley (Cher), residing in Battle Ground, Wash. and Marilyn Darley Williams (David), Sandy, Utah. In 1955, the Darley family moved to Moses Lake, Wash. where they lived and called home for almost 50 years.
Maxine worked at Pacific Northwest Bell and served as office manager of the business office for many years. She loved to bowl on leagues, made Swiss steak to perfection and was a wonderful wife, mother and friend. In 2005, she and Keith sold their home and rental property in Cascade Valley to move to Battle Ground, Wash. to be near their son and family. Since 2009, she and Keith have lived in the beautiful Van Mall Retirement community in Vancouver, Wash. Maxine instructed Wii bowling, enjoyed their many friends dining, playing cards, bowling and in the Red Hats Society – where as the Queen Bee, she organized lunches, outings and tea parties. Each morning for years, she and Keith would play Skip-Bo to determine who would be the boss for the day. As parents, they couldn’t have been more loving, caring, hardworking and just plain fun. Her children and grandchildren adore her.
Maxine died Feb. 24, 2016 and is survived by her loving husband Keith, both children, spouses, seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She had faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and felt confidence in her return to Him.
A memorial service will be March 5 at 2:30 at the Morrison Payne Mortuary in Rupert, Idaho.