As a child, I got to spend a lot of time with both my grandfather and grandmother, and for that I feel so fortunate. As a child, spending time with my grandma was always an adventure. From taking bread to the park to feed ducks, going to paint pottery, or sneaking in an ice cream sundae before dinner, grandma always had a plan for having fun. She was an inherently creative woman, and she had artistic ingenuity like very few others. Her passion for art radiated throughout everything she did, and inevitably played a big part in our relationship as well. 

Grandma taught me how to sew buttons onto shirts, how to draw, and even color theory. Through her involvement with the Artist's School, I was able to attend several art classes during summers. On the last day of art class, we were able to take all of our pieces home. Grandma came to pick me up from class, and wanted to see some of the art that I created at camp. I pulled the first painting out of my bag and showed her a still life, a green pear against a red background. You'd have to be an expert in ink blot interpretation to tell it was even a pear, but my grandma beamed with a huge smile and praised that sad, little green pear the entire way home. When we got home, she put the painting on display. It made me feel like the world's most revered artist. 

Days went by, and we both got older, but age was just a number to her. She threw grandiose parties, maintained traditions with her friends, and kept painting and drawing whenever she had the chance. She was vibrant and outgoing, and her smile and laugh could fill a room. Eventually the time came, like they always do, when it was grandma's time to leave us. But before her house was emptied, I walked through and got a glimpse of the life that she and grandpa built together.  Despite not having lived there for a few months, the house still smelled like her, and that little painting of the green pear still sat in the living room. I will always miss my grandmother. 

I wish I had spoken up today at the service. 
Maxine was a force. She was very goal oriented.  She spoke to the 2018 Beaux Arts committee about the importance of setting goals.  Her example was her experience with Scottsdale Art League. Max really enjoyed being in the league.  She wanted to be more involved. Then, being Maxine, she decided that she wanted to be president. So, Maxine wrote down that goal on a piece of paper and then wrote down what she thought she needed to do to meet that goal. She did become president of Scottsdale Art League. 
Though Wayne Fairchild may have had the idea for an artist group in Scottsdale, Maxine had the Moxie. She approached the League and asked them to lend the fledgling Scottsdale Artists’ School $10,000 in 1983. Not many people know that Maxine and Lefty under wrote that loan personally. They believed, or rather she believed so much in the school and, of course, Lefty always supported Maxine. He had great respect for her.  They took that risk so that the School would become a reality.
Max was very supportive of the staff and volunteers at Scottsdale Artists’ School.  One year, when Sue Feagler Mary Lueck and I were chairing Beaux-Arts, we had a western theme. Maxine let each of us wear one of her necklaces. I got to wear her butterfly one. There’s a picture of the three of us somewhere, but we all felt very special wearing her beloved Native American jewelry that night. 
Maxine’s legacies are many.  Her marriage was an example to all of us. Her two children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will continue her spirit. And, for me, most of all, she left us Scottsdale Artists’ School.  
Beyond all that , Maxine was my friend. She was always supportive, listened to my woes, and laughed at my jokes. We shared a love of jewelry, art, the School and our husbands.
I  will miss her very much as will many.  

Memorial Service

Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery

Betty Johnston

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OBITUARY

Betty Maxine Johnston

June 18, 1925 – January 3, 2020

Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery

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