Helen Maxine Sweeney, age 98, of Emmett, Idaho. passed away at the home of her daughter in Sweet, Idaho, of heart failure.
She was born in a tent which was the family home, on Friday the 13th of June, 1916, to Charles and Emma (Reeder) Maupin, the eighth of nine children.
Her early childhood was spent on the Illinois River in a log cabin built by her father near Agnes, Ore. Later, the family moved to Gold Beach and then Reedsport.
Maxine was a straight A student, and a great athlete. She excelled in baseball, basketball, volleyball and swimming. She had an ear for music, and was often asked to help with piano lessons, while the instructor was tending to dinner. Her favorite music was Lawrence Welk and old time westerns.
In 1933 her family moved to Fort Bidwell, Calif., where she graduated from high school and met her companion for life, Paul Sweeney, at a Halloween dance. One year later they were married in Reno, Nev., on Halloween.
Maxine and Paul moved to Golconda, Nev., to run the Diamond S Ranch where their first born son, Lester arrived. Paul ran some local ranches and worked at the Midas Mine and then to Squaw Valley Ranch where they spent the next 21 years. There, her son Patrick, daughters, Gene and Lynn joined the family. Maxine stayed busy, sometimes as a fill-in cook for the ranch crew, transporting children to school, often in winter with a team of horses hooked to a bobsled, and helping with chores around the ranch. From there they moved to Winnemucca then Orovada, Ne., where they built a bar and restaurant, which Maxine ran until Paul retired from trapping for the government. When they sold out they moved to Emmett, Idaho.
Paul passed away in 2001. Though he was truly missed, Maxine never set idle. She loved to garden, make and bead buckskin moccasins, and other intricate crafts.
Her most memorable times were traveling many miles across the desert with her pistol on the seat of her Subaru, to watch her grandchildren and great grandchildren compete in sports. Everything from rodeos, ballgames, 4-H events, brandings and team ropings. She would spend hours sitting in the bleachers across many states.
An avid horse racing fan, she would always bet on the grey, most of the time winning the bet.
Maxine was a lady, a mother, grandmother, great and great-great grandmother, and aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
"The light that shines through the spirit and soul of Maxine, serves as a beacon for all of us that were blessed enough to be a part of her life."
She is survived by her two sons, Lester (Cheri), Patrick (Teena) Sweeney; daughter, Gene (John) Gabica; son-in-law, Dick (Janet) Flowers; grandchildren, Renae (John) Ugalde, Choch (Margaret) Gabica, David and Paul (Robin) Sweeney, Linda (John) Jackson and their children, Lorie, Lyle, Dean (Nancy), Laurie Sweeney; great grandchildren, Victor Ugalde, Karli and Cheyenne Gabica, Jessica, Allen, Wendy, Patrick, Carson, Kyle and Taylre Sweeney, Jessica Walter, John Jackson and great great grandchildren, Isabelle and Claire Jackson, and Kenna Sweeney.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Sweeney; daughter, Lynn Sweeney and grandson Tony Sweeney.
A huge thank you to care takers: Annie Newell, a close friend who always came to watch the BSU football games with Maxine and sit with her whenever needed. Jeff Yonkers, a close friend and neighbor who was very special to her. Michaila Powell, Carly and Klay Lanham, Brooke Troutt, and Terrie Jackson. Her Doctors, Dr. Greg Thompson, and Dr. Brett Mumford. Horizon Home Health & Hospice nursing staff, in Emmett; especially Jennifer Kopec. Special thanks to: Bill, Nichole, Maddy and Lane Sargent, Chris, Loren, Bryana and Ryan Shockey, Scott, Justine, and Ryan Weaver, Eric Soito and family, Don and JoAnn Tueller.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Potter Funeral Chapel, 228 E. Main St. in Emmett, Idaho. The family suggests memorials in Maxine's name be sent to the Winnemucca, Nev., Buckaroo Hall of Fame, c/o Carl Hammond, HC Box 135, Burns, Oregon 97720.
A celebration of her life will be held in Nevada to be announced at a later date.[[In-content Ad]]
