Obituary of Maxine Helen Eldridge

In Remembrance of Maxine Helen (Iverson) Eldridge who passed away on Nov 10th, 2022.

 

Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on June 26th, 1929, to Alven S and Dorothy R (Davis) Iverson. She had one brother, Robert.

 

Maxine grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington High School. After a first marriage with three children, she married Paul L Eldridge in 1960 and they moved to Livonia Michigan, later to Elkhart Indiana (in 1967) and finally to Colorado (1976). She herself later moved to Tucson Arizona where she had a successful career as a realtor for 25 years.

 

A strong, loving mother, she ensured that her three daughters would be educated and self-reliant, pushing each to obtain a university degree. An avid reader, she joined a book club with friends in Elkhart. In Colorado, she took up skiing and even skied in France when visiting her youngest daughter. She always said it was the best sport she'd ever practiced but regretted not having done it more often. She also liked to hike and passed on her love of gardening to her daughters. A master of cheesecake, her special recipe remains a favorite.

 

Later in life, Maxine was an avid fan of sports. She preferred watching college football and basketball, especially the University of Arizona teams. She followed major golf tournaments, having played golf herself, and even enjoyed baseball games. She also loved sport cars, especially her 1996 Honda Prelude.

 

A gracious hostess for her daughters' families, her Tucsonian home and pool were a haven of fun for her grandchildren. The exotic desert cactus, roadrunners, quail, tarantulas, scorpions made for 'exciting' memories. As one granddaughter recently wrote, "When I think of my grandmother, I see all those beautiful places of Arizona, from the deserts to the mountains of Mount Lemmon, with all its fantastic wildlife and vivid souvenirs with her and the love so simple she could give without judging ". Her grandchildren and great grandchildren saw her as a 'fun, cool grandma' and said 'her heart will always shine on'.

 

My sister Susan and her husband Glenn were Maxine's main support for the latter part of her life. Sue's care with doctor appointments, card games, family visits and dinners as well as the long drives to see what Maxine referred to as her 'beloved Catalina mountains' or favorite desert picnic areas, the Mango Tango smoothies, and Mexican food vendors were always a favorite.

 

In her last year, she lived at Atria Valley Manor, an independent living residence where she made new friends and was so happy. It was truly a blessing.

 

Maxine's memory will live on with her daughters: Nancy Eldridge, Susan Grafton and Janis Morel as well as her seven grandchildren : Nathalie, Jessica, Randi, Shannon, Kristi, Russell and Bryce, her eleven great-grandchildren, four nephews; four cousins.

Rest in peace. 

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