Maxine Webster

Maxine Webster, longtime resident of Ellensburg, Washington passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on December 2. 2022. She was born in Macedonia, Iowa on June 18, 1928.

As a young girl, Maxine spent most of her time on a farm her parents sharecropped outside of Brandon, Missouri. Because of the remoteness of the farm, Maxine was a bit isolated from friends of her age but enjoyed having dozens of farm cats and a pet goat that followed her everywhere. At the age of 12 her father, Claude Street passed away and she and her mother, Verda, moved to Ellensburg to stay with her grandparents, Christopher and Nora Cook at their home. All of her children fondly remember playing in their great grandparent’s yard and the Sunday chicken dinners which Nora and Verda cooked entirely on a wood fired stove. 

Maxine graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1946 and married Sam Webster on August 1, 1949 at St. Andrew's Catholic Church. Maxine and Sam raised seven children in Ellensburg and at times fostered three Cuban refugees until they could be united with their parents.  

In addition to raising her children Maxine worked at Webster’s Cafe and Smokehouse downtown and Webster’s BBQ near the CWU campus and also as a teller at a local bank. Maxine was active many years with St. Andrews Catholic church as a volunteer.

Maxine loved to sew and was always making wonderful quilts and other handmade gifts for her extensive family. She was a member of the Catholic prayer group, loved to play pinochle and bridge with friends and, together with Sam, they owned several horses which they took on trail rides around the Kittitas valley foothills. She was also a member of the women’s riding group, The Silver Spurs.  The group performed in the Labor Day Rodeo parade and at the rodeo arena grounds. Sam and Maxine also enjoyed playing golf regularly at the Ellensburg Golf Club.

Sam and Maxine spent many weekends camping, swimming and skiing with their children. All have fond memories of loading up the station wagon and heading out for a day of outdoor fun.

Maxine is survived by her seven children: son Kent and Jung Eun Webster, daughter Kristina and Hank Griffith, son Craig and Julie Webster, daughter Suzanne and Randy Freburg, son Brad and Yvonne Webster, son Samuel and Teresa Webster and daughter Claudia and Gary Jorgenson, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.  A few months ago she was blessed with her first great great grandchild.

She is preceded in death by her husband Sam Webster in 2008 after 59 years of marriage, sister Linda Emerson who died in 2022 and mother and step-father Verda and 'Shorty’ Uriel McCarty.

Maxine had many friends aside from her extensive family and will be greatly missed.

Viewing for family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2022 at Johnston & Williams Funeral Home in Ellensburg. The Rosary will be prayed for Maxine at 7:00 p.m. Friday evening also at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 10 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Ellensburg with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.  A reception will follow the burial back at the church.

Memorial contributions in Maxine’s honor are suggested to Franciscan Hospice House Hospice Foundation, 2901 Bridgeport Way West, University Place, WA 98466.

Johnston & Williams Funeral Home and Crematory of Ellensburg has been entrusted with caring for Mrs. Webster and her family. Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com