Ruby Maxfield

Ruby Greta Maxfield, a long time resident of Bonners Ferry, died Nov. 14 in Corvallis, Ore. She was 94. Ruby was born to Lars Alfred Stonklift and Anna Elida Carlson Stonklift in Round Prairie (Addie District), Boundary County, Idaho, on March 22, 1916. She grew up in the isolation of a homestead in full view of Queen Mountain. Her education included Bonners Ferry High School, University of Washington, and Eastern Washington Normal School (Cheney, Wash.). During World War II she worked as an inspector at Boeing Aircraft. Her eldest granddaughter now works there as an engineer and has at her desk her grandmother's micrometer. She married Art Snyder in Seattle. A shipyard accident a few weeks later changed her from bride to nurse. After many months of intensive home care he died from his injuries. Ruby obtained her teaching certificate and taught for one year in a two room school in Copeland. After surviving a winter where the cat froze to death in the woodshed, she elected to move back to Seattle. There she met Raymond Shough, a handsome Air Force Sergeant, whom she later married. After a tour of duty in France, they moved back to Bonners Ferry to help her parents run the Ruby Motel and raise their son, David. Ray was unable to put down roots in Idaho and drifted out of her life. She returned to teaching when the completion of Canada One reduced the tourist traffic through Bonners Ferry. A long time friend, Roland Maxfield, proposed to her at the New York World's Fair. They were married and he adopted David. Instead of following Roland to the Far East when his job required a move, Ruby elected to stay and take care of her father and the motel. Teaching first grade became the focus of her life. In her free hours she took up golf and bird watching. The annual yard sale on the lawn of the now retired motel was a major fundraiser for the Bonners Birders. The same year her first grandchild was announced, she retired from teaching and filled her time with volunteer activities and travel. Organizations that benefitted from her time and energy included: Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers, Boundary County Library, the Lutheran church, hospital auxiliary, the visitor's center, and Red Hat's. Trips included visits with family in Michigan and Sweden. With her own family living far away, Ruby became an honorary grandparent to several local families. Ruby enjoyed bird watching hikes into her 80's and golf into her 90's. When she could no longer live alone in her beloved motel on the south hill, she moved to the Restorium and later to West Hills Assisted Living in Corvallis, Ore., where she could be closer to her grandchildren. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents and husbands. She is survived by her son David, his wife Eileen, and their three children, Alison, Alfred Lee, and Anna Lynn. A memorial reception will be held at the Trinity Luthern Chuch's social hall in Bonners Ferry from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to the Boundary County Educator's scholarship fund at the University of Idaho Foundation.

Ruby Maxfield

March 22, 1916 - November 14, 2010