May 14, 1935 - January 18, 2019
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Maxine Caldwell at the age of 83.
Maxine was born in Paynton, Saskatchewan to Lewis and Elizabeth Holmes. Their family moved to Cranbrook in 1941 and ran the Green and White cabins for many years. Maxine went through school in Cranbrook and remembered gathering their books at Tenth Avenue School and walking to Mount Baker School as the first classes to attend there.
Maxine was a proud member of the Cranbrook Girls Bugle Band and took her bugle to all the grandchildren's sporting events. After school she worked at the health unit for a time and she then met Bud and they married in 1956. They both became Realtors and opened Caldwell Agencies in 1964.
Maxine was a woman before her time in that she had five children, worked full-time and managed to do both with capability and lots of love and laughter.
Maxine was the first female to be a director on the Kootenay Real Estate Board and its first woman President. She was also the first woman on the Real Estate Council of B.C.
It is said that if you want something done, ask a busy person. This was Maxine. She volunteered for many fundraisers over the years in Cranbrook as well as the Summer and Senior Games. She belonged to Kinettes, Rotary Anns, Daughters of the Nile, and the Cranbrook Curling Club. Maxine also served one term on Cranbrook City Council, was a Chamber of Commerce director and served on many committees including the building of the Key City Theatre. She was also the creative force behind the Caldwell Agencies prize-winning Sam Steele floats every year.
Maxine had a lot of strengths but our favourite was her ability to make everything fun. She loved Cranbrook and was always giving back to the community. Maxine received the Super Sam Award, Freedom of The City, and along with Bud, was named Citizen of the Year in 1987.
Maxine was predeceased by her parents, her husband Bud, and her brother Albert. She is survived by her brother Wes (Judy); sisters-in-law, Deanie, Peggy and Lois; and her five children, Liz (Ron) Schatschneider, Harry (Lauriss) Caldwell, Joanne (Bob) Kitt, Mike (Corinne) Caldwell, and Janis Caldwell.
Family always came first with Maxine and her greatest joy was to see the births of her eleven grandchildren: Jen (Chris) Brown, Mary Schatschneider, Katie Caldwell, Jack Caldwell, Mike (Carlyn) and their children, Owen, Logan, and Embree Kitt, Christine (Kevin) and their children, Natalie, Maddy and Annie Hagen, Alex Kitt, Brent Caldwell, Bryan Caldwell, Joel Sawley and Justin Sawley.
Maxine spent the past twelve years at Joseph Creek Care Village and our thanks go to all the staff for taking good care of our mom.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 pm on Saturday February 9th at the Days Inn ballroom, 600 Cranbrook Street North. The family is going to purchase a memorial tree from the Cranbrook Trees for Life program. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Caldwell Agencies Ltd., 290 Wallinger Avenue, Kimberley, BC V1A 1Z1