Ella Blanche Maxwell, a longtime resident of Lostine, Oregon, passed away Dec. 3, 2017, in the comfort of her home with loved ones. She was 90 years old.

Blanche was born Nov. 8, 1927, in Hettinger, N.D., to Camille and Katherine Lermeny. The family moved to Wallowa County in the early 1930s. Blanche and her brother, Robert Le Roy Lermeny, enjoyed their childhood on a ranch east of Joseph, where Blanche spent most of her time on horseback.

Blanche met Marvin Maxwell at Enterprise High School where they soon became sweethearts. Marvin served in Japan in the U.S. Army. Returning from service, he and Blanche were married on March 13, 1949. Blanche and Marvin had three boys, James Bailey, Donald Lee, and Gregory Dale.

Blanche was a terrific mother and a very hard working woman. Due to Marvin’s work with First Interstate Bank, the family often relocated. Blanche not only took care of the children during these moves, but also often had side jobs in each new city. Her favorite employment was when she worked for the Forest Service in Wallowa County. This job spoke both to her love of nature and her love of service.

Blanche was very well known in the local community for her love of horses. She was a Princess on the 1946 Wallowa County Court, a 1947 Chief Joseph Days Princess, a 1947 Elgin Stampede Princess, and a 1948 Princess of the Lewiston Roundup Court. In her golden years, she often rode in the Chief Joseph Days parade with other former queens and princesses; with her granddaughter, Bailey, usually riding by her side. Blanche was also the Grand Marshal of Mule Days in 2007. The joke was always that she was always a princess and never a queen. That streak finally ended when she was named queen of the Redneck Rodeo in 2000.

In 2006, Marvin Maxwell, Blanche’s husband and love of her life, passed away. She found solace in her two dogs, Brisco and Tippy. As Blanche would say, “When you have pets, you are never alone.” She spent many years enjoying the company of her dogs and the beautiful view of the Wallowa Mountains. She called it “the perfect view a person can have.”

The family would like to thank the community of Wallowa County for all of the love and support they have shown Blanche and her family throughout the years. A public service will be held at Wallowa Cemetery on May 19 at 1 p.m. to celebrate a life well-lived. A gathering to share memories and enjoy food will be at the Wallowa County Senior Center following the service.

Blanche is survived by her sons, James Bailey and Gregory Dale Maxwell; sister in-law, Thelma Maxwell; daughter in-law, Kathy Maxwell; grandchildren, Bailey Anne Maxwell, Jason B. Maxwell, and Sherry Lynn Ledgerwood; niece, Marcia Wood and husband, Monte; nephew, Bill Maxwell; five great-grand children; and many other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by parents, Camille and Katherine Lermeny; step-father, Marvin Bork; husband, Marvin Maxwell; brother, Robert Lermeny; and son, Donald Maxwell.

Remembrances may be made by donating to Back Country Horsemen or the Oregon Humane Society Enterprise branch.