Happy Valley resident Maxine Eris Cox passed away May 13th, 2019. She was born in Amherst South Dakota April 13th, 1924, and was the youngest of 5 children born to Lee E. Smith and Audrey Jane Ramer Smith.
Maxine attended grade school in Amherst; her oldest sister being her teacher. Forced by drought and dust storms, in 1937 the family moved to Gervais, Oregon and later to Salem. Maxine graduated from Merritt Davis School of Commerce and was employed at the credit bureau. She and Wilbur Cox were married in 1949 and shared 66 loving years together before Wilbur passed in 2016.
They moved to Portland in 1950, where they raised their two children Gregg Robert and Cheryl Ann. Maxine was a wonderful mom, taking her children and others berry picking, swimming, and was very involved in school activities, cub/boy scouts and girl scouts. In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, gardening, golf, and spending time with family.
In 1959, Wilbur and Maxine purchased East Moreland Grocery and Market, where they made many friends and golfing buddies before selling the store in 1978. They spent many years wintering in Indio, California. In their later years both Wilbur and Maxine came to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
Survivors include children Gregg Cox (Barbara) of Terrebonne, Cheryl Briece Meyer (Arden) of Boring, grandchildren Jeffrey Cox (Kristen), Timothy Cox (Jolene), Anne Briece Dewing (Doug), and Janel Briece Rieder (Randy) 8 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. She was a special lady, loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.