Mary Leona Walker Maughan

1917 - 2005

RONAN — Mary Leona Walker Maughan died Aug. 10, 2005, as the result of a car accident in Coeur d'Alene.

She was born May 19, 1917, in American Falls, Idaho, to James Omer Walker and Avilla Irene Kelly. She was raised in California by her mother and stepfather, Thomas Maughan.

She married Leslie A. Maughan on June 30, 1936, in Burbank, Calif. They were the parents of three daughters, Mary, Irene and Betty, and one son, Edwin.

Leona and Les raised their family on a farm in the Round Butte community west of Ronan. Although Leona was a city girl, she took on the true responsibility of a farm wife. She was happiest in the summer driving the tractor in the hayfield. She raised a large garden and canned and stored many jars of food for her family. In her spare time she loved to make quilts. Leona made over 1,000 quilts in her lifetime; many were given to family and friends as gifts. Most of the rest were donated to dozens of different charities.

After her family was grown, she worked as a legal secretary as well as many other human service jobs.

Les and Leona moved to their present home in Ronan in 1969. After Les' death in 1973, she continued to work and keep up with her children and grandchildren.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved to teach the gospel.

She loved her family and was always happy to participate with them on a family outing, a work project or accompany them on a trip. She was vigorous and happy and loved to explore life. At age 80, she was rafting Class 4 rapids with her family.

One of her biggest delights in life was graduating from Salish Kootenai College at age 63. She was a great writer and had several articles, short stories and poems published in her lifetime.

Leona was preceded in death by her husband Leslie A. Maughan, grandson Gregory Fink and her granddaughter, Anne Finley.

She is survived by her children, Mary Brown of Federal Way, Wash., Betty Baldwin (Richard) of Allen, Texas, Irene Lake and Edwin Maughan (LaRita) of Ronan; 25 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren, and her sister, Eva Wyrick-Meier, Laguna Woods, Calif.

Funeral services were held Aug. 16 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ronan. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery following the services.

Arrangements were being handled by Shrider's Mortuary of Ronan.