ETTA MAXINE WELLMAN, 93
February 23, 1922 – December 4, 2015
Etta Maxine Wellman of Woodburn, OR died December 4th, 2015 with her family at her side. Maxine was born in Lead, So. Dakota to William and Charlotte Good on February 23, 1922. She was the 5th child of Charlotte and the only child of William. She had a wonderful childhood and was privileged to live through the depression with little hardship.
Maxine was married very young to John Mertz and had her first daughter Cheron. After the war she met and married Ralph Herber and had a second daughter, Carla. The family moved from South Dakota to Southern California in 1952. Maxine loved California and they finally settled in Downey. Those were wonderful times. Two of Maxine's brothers lived in California and they were also reunited with old friends from South Dakota who moved out west. They were fortunate to have both friends and family in this totally new environment. Maxine found work at North American Aviation in the Blue Print Department. She had a beautiful home with a swimming pool and loved entertaining friends and family. In 1959 Ralph was transferred to Portland so Oregon became her home for the rest of her life. She continued to work outside the home for many years. Maxine was a most fastidious person and always wanted everything to be perfect in every way. She loved to cook and was an exceptional baker.
When Ralph retired in 1972, they bought Mike's Tavern in Vernonia and Maxine started her new career as bar owner. They sold Mike's in 1980 and settled in Woodburn Senior Estates. They both enjoyed playing golf and bridge with the many friends they made. Ralph and Maxine spent a great deal of time with their grandchildren and traveled frequently to California to see Cheron's family and help with whatever that year's project was. They also gave much time and attention to Carla's children taking them for long visits, trips to the beach and to California to visit cousins.
Ralph passed away in 1990 and approximately a year later, Maxine met Albert Wellman. Both Bert and Maxine were members of St. Luke's Catholic Church and were married there in 1992. Both having been widowed, they felt very lucky to have found each other at that time in their lives. They were able to enjoy many years together traveling, taking beach trips and entertaining friends and family in their lovely home.
Tragedy struck Maxine's family in 1998 when a tragic car accident over the Thanksgiving holiday took the life of granddaughter Wendy Dysle and her husband Paul.
Maxine leaves behind Albert, her loving husband of 23 years; Daughters: Cheron Zittle and Carla Doyle (Greg); Step children: Marsha Northrup (Mike), Jan Delf (John), Scott Wellman (Sue); Grandchildren: Mike Zittle, Cheryl Badaracco, Deena Bergstrom (Tom), Tony Wilson (Andrea); Great Grandchildren: Brandon Campbell, Cassie Campbell, Max Dysle, Taylor Bergstrom, Vincent Wilson, Wyatt Wilson and Travis Wilson.
A Mass will be said Saturday December 12th at 5:00PM at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Woodburn and a Celebration of Life gathering will be held at noon on January 3rd at East Moreland Golf Club. Entombment will be at Willamette National Cemetery.
Any donations in her memory may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) or Hospice Care of the North West (hospicecarenw.com)