Edna Virginia Maxwell

Edna Maxwell passed away on July 13th at the age of 98. Edna was born February 6th, 1924 in Duluth, Minnesota to Eino and Ida Lunden. She had one sister named Gladys and a brother named Ernie. The family moved to Reedsport, on the beautiful Oregon coast, where Edna grew up. One of her favorite memories was going to the beach with her friends and family, and eating freshly caught crab boiled in sea water. Edna met the love of her life, Elmer Maxwell, when he was stationed with the US Coast Guard near Reedsport. Elmer and Edna married in 1947, and settled in a small apartment in Vanport, Oregon. Not long after that, Vanport was devastated by a flood and they had to abandon their apartment and flee to higher ground. After this, they moved to Portland and bought their first house.

Edna was a wonderful mother to four children: Diane (1950), Curtis (1953), Bill (1960) and Lois (1962). Edna and Elmer were baptized into Jesus Christ in 1957 and became faithful members of the Eastside Church of Christ. In the fall of 1968 Edna took a job at Columbia Christian College as the Secretary to the Dean, and later as the registrar. This was to enable her children to attend Columbia and receive a Christian education. She was a skilled typist and took fast and furious shorthand. Edna retired from Columbia in 1985. After retirement, Edna and Elmer became very involved with the Mien congregation that met at Eastside. Edna helped many people by doing their taxes, helping them fill out complicated forms, and typing for them. They often rewarded her with a yummy gift of homemade egg rolls, which she loved. In 2006, Edna’s precious husband, Elmer, passed away and her heart was broken. She struggled for a while to go on without him, but finally found her niche with the other widows at Eastside. She started quilting, working with the other ladies to make lovely quilts for orphans and others in need. She went faithfully to ladies’ Bible class and enjoyed the study of God’s word, and she loved going out to eat with all her friends after church on Sunday mornings.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, her sister, Gladys Button, her brother, Ernie Lunden, her nephews Phil Button, and Jerry Button, and by many of her friends. She is survived by her children, Diane English (Don), Curtis Maxwell, Bill Maxwell (Charlene) and Lois Owen (Ken), her niece Judy Jendrzejewski (John), her grandchildren, Eric English (Trisha), Allison Jerwers (Steve), Jonathan Maxwell (Harmony), and Whitney Maxwell, as well as 8 great grandchildren.

Edna was a strong woman of faith. After Edna had passed away, her daughter was going through her Bible. Stuffed between the pages of the Bible were page after page of names… so many people she was praying for… she prayed over these names every day while she drank her morning coffee. She prayed every night as she laid in bed for all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, each one by name. In her Bible were also numerous notes on which were written scriptures which were meaningful to her. She loved the Lord and she was a faithful servant. Edna is rejoicing with Elmer and all her friends and family who have gone before her. There is no doubt that Jesus has said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

In a private graveside service, Edna was laid to rest beside her husband Elmer at Brainard Cemetery.