There is an old saying "It rained cats and dogs and squalling babies..." On such a night Mary "Maxine" James was born on a small farm near Benedict, Kansas. The storm was so bad, the doctor after traveling though blinding rain, thunder, lightning and very muddy, bumpy roads to get to their home apparently had to take some of his own medicine after such a terrorizing ride.


Maxine's parents, George Ernest James and Nancy Mary Cruzan Sparks had both been married before and respectively lost their spouses in the flu epidemic of 1918. They combined their 10 children and added 5 more (one dying at birth) to their herd.




In 1943, Maxine's family moved to Rupert, Idaho. Maxine excelled in school, was an honor student, cheerleader, twirled a baton and loved music. She sang at many occasions with her young siblings. She was employed by the telephone company as an operator after being recommended by her school principal. World War II broke out and Maxine took it upon herself to write to every hometown boy in the service. She married one of these boys, Leo "Keith" Darley, upon his return, after an eventful courtship. They were married on August 11, 1947 and celebrated 68 years of marriage this past August. There were blessed by two children, Gary Keith Darley (Cher, residing in Battleground, Washington) and Marilyn Darley Williams (David, Sandy, Utah.) In 1955, the Darley family moved to Moses Lake, Washington where they lived and called home for almost 50 years.


Maxine worked at Pacific Northwest Bell and served as office manager of the business office for many years. She loved to bowl on leagues, made Swiss steak to perfection and was a wonderful wife, mother and friend. In 2005, she and Keith sold their home and rental properties in Cascade Valley to move to Battleground, Washington to be near their son and family. Since 2009, she and Keith have lived in the beautiful Van Mall Retirement community in Vancouver, Washington where they have made wonderful friends. Maxine instructed WII bowling, enjoyed their many friends dining, playing cards, bowling and in the Red Hats Society, where as the Queen Bee, she organized lunches, outings and tea parties. Each morning for years, she and Keith would play Skipbo to determine who would be the boss for the day. As parents, they couldn't have been more loving, caring, hardworking and just plain fun. Her children and grandchildren adore her!




Maxine died February 24, 2016 and is survived by her husband, Keith; her children and their spouses, 7 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She had faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and felt confidence in her return to Him.


Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. March 5, 2016 at the Morrison Funeral Home and Crematory, 188 South Highway 24 in Rupert, Idaho. The family will greet guests for one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place at the Rupert Cemetery immediately following the service.