Union, Oregon
Ardith Maxene Livingston, 100, of Union, died at her residence May 31. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Union. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Maxene Livingston was born Aug. 29, 1907, the oldest of 13 children, in Santaquin, Utah. She grew up on the family farm owned by her parents, Albert and Chloe Tietjen Greenbalgh. As the oldest child, she was very involved in rearing her brothers and sisters. She also learned to operate all of the farm equipment except the binder because that was pulled by three horses.
She grew up in a time when there were very few cars, so travel and farming was done with horses. Maxene graduated from the ninth grade in Santaquin, then graduated from high school in Payson, Utah, where she met her future husband, Vaughn Livingston. After graduation, she moved to Salt Lake City, where she worked as a milliner, designing and making women’s hats.
Maxene and Vaughn were married in Oakland, Calif., Oct. 28, 1926. They remained in California until the Great Depression when they moved to Provo, Utah, where Vaughn attended Brigham Young University.
Upon graduation they moved to Twisp, Wash. – the beginning of a long career with the U.S. Forest Service. Employment with the Forest Service required living in many places including John Day, Seneca, Naches, Wash., Entiat, Wash., and Union, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Over the years, five sons were added to the family. Now the family includes 22 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. Maxene remembered all her posterity, giving each of them a card and gift at every birthday and many holidays.
Her second great love was her church – the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was an active member with a strong testimony of her Savior, Jesus Christ. Maxene accepted many callings, working with the Relief Society, Young Women and the Primary.
She especially loved working with the little children, serving well into her 90s.
Those who knew her say many have benefited from Maxene’s lifelong dedication to serving others. She was famous for the sweet rolls and bread, as well as the afghans and quilts she shared.
She is survived by her children, Nancy Livingston of Washougal, Wash., Albert and Lillavie Livingston of Ephrata, Wash., R. Ladd and Nyleen Livingston of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Alan and Neda Livingston of Eugene; 21 grandchildren; all her great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren; brothers Rex and Richard Greenhalgh; and sisters Helen Stott, Gaye Greenhalgh, Clarice Peterson and Marilyn Clayson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vaughn; two sons, Vaughn E. Jr. and Garth; a granddaughter, Cathy Ellis; two sisters, Genevieve and Lucille; and two brothers, Blaine and Gene.
La Grande Observer – June 5, 2008
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Ardith Maxene Livingston, 100, of Union, died May 31 at her residence. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Union. Viewing will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the church prior to service. Loveland Funeral Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
La Grande Observer – June 6, 2008