Maxine Leitz, 77

Maxine Marie Leitz, 77, lifelong Plummer, Idaho, resident and beloved Mom and Gma adventured on her safe journey home surrounded by her family Jan. 3, 2023. She was born to Robert and Nora (McCartney) Janson on Feb. 9, 1945, in Plummer. Maxine was raised in Plummer and graduated from Plummer High School with the class of 1963.

Immediately following her graduation, she married Bill Leitz on June 12, 1963, in Wallace, Idaho. The couple moved to southern Idaho and started their family. Maxine chose to be a stay-at-home mom. In 1970, the Leitz family returned to Plummer and made its permanent home.

Maxine always kept herself busy, she sold Tupperware and Avon and later babysat for the whole area. She also took tickets at the gate/door of any home game sporting event — whether it be football or basketball or volleyball, pretty much anything that had to do with Plummer. She was a member of the Plummer/Lakeside High School Booster Club, and she loved supporting the local school sports programs. If there was ever a fundraiser, people knew to approach Maxine, she would always supply baked goods for anything needed in the Plummer community.

Maxine loved Elvis, the color purple, lilacs, butterflies, magazines, crafts, ceramics, spaghetti, spaghetti and spaghetti. Weeks before Memorial Day, she would spend a lot of hours and finances on flowers, baskets and trellises, creating beautiful arrangements for anyone and everyone she could think of. After she created all of these wonderful gifts, delivery began in multiple cemeteries and gravesites; although this was a lot of work on Maxine, she loved it and didn’t want anyone to be forgotten as they were always remembered by her. Her home was always decorated for the holidays to the extreme, often lovingly teased by family that she was showboating at Halloween, but her family and friends loved her decorated home. Even her yard was decorated with her “pretties,” an array of beautiful garden stakes, statues, bears, butterflies and wind chimes. Family reunions were very important to her, and at holidays and birthdays she made sure everyone received a present. There were so many lives she touched; she didn’t realize how special everyone thought of her.

Maxine is survived by her children, Shelley Leitz of Plummer, Sherry Leitz of Mullan, Kristy (Mike) Huber of Worley, and Kathy Leitz of Plummer; sister Doreen (Vic) McCully of Plummer; brother in-law Terry Hamon of Coeur d’Alene; grandchildren Trevor Pierce, Justin Waddell, Amanda Waddell and Michael Huber; great-grandchildren Joshua and Nadine Waddell; and tons of nieces, nephews and greats. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill Leitz and siblings with their predeceased spouses Bob (Anita) Janson, Don (Chris) Janson, Dave (Kathy) Janson, Cork Janson and Roger Janson.

A celebration of Maxine’s life will be held Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, at 2 p.m. at the American Legion Building in Plummer. Come and enjoy some of Maxine’s favorites, such as spaghetti, that will be catered by Gateway. Please come eat and celebrate with us and bring your favorite memories and stories of Maxine to share. You may visit her online tribute at hodgefuneralhome.com.