Maxine Valate Gourley Rice, 91, of Foster, Oregon passed away at her home due to natural causes on Thursday. She was surrounded by members of her loving family. Maxine was born in Robertson, Wyoming to Robert Mancel and Eldawna Eileen (Gray) Gourley. She was born at the family homestead of her maternal grandfather. Maxine was the second of four children, having three brothers.

In 1942, her family moved to Portland, Oregon where Maxine graduated from Gresham High School. Because the country was in the midst of WWII, Maxine went to work in the Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, Washington. Maxine’s excellent office skills and work ethic resulted in her being promoted to a supervisory clerk in the Kaiser shipping department, which built aircraft carriers.

In 1946, she went to work for Willamette Industries, Foster division, as time keeper and payroll clerk. In the mid 1960s, she began working for the Forest Service doing clerical work. She continued with this job until she retired in the mid 1970s.

She married Willis George ‘Bill’ Rice on September 24, 1948. They lived in Lebanon, Oregon from September 1948 to June 1949. They moved seven miles east of Foster, Oregon in June 1949, where they built their home. They have two sons, Robert Terry Rice and Michael Dwaine Rice.

Maxine spent her retirement years doing much of what she loved. She shared the same interests of her husband Bill who was an avid fisherman, hunter, camper, dancer, lover of good music, and gardener. She and Bill celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and Bill’s 80th birthday in June of 1998. They were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She is survived by her two sons, Terry and Mike, and their wives; eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Maxine was preceded in death by: her husband of 53 years, Willis George ‘Bill’ Rice; her older brother, Robert Roy Gourley; and her two younger brothers, William Mancel Gourley and Jack Elwin Gourley.

Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 5, 2015 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweet Home. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Gilliland Cemetery where a graveside service will be for family members only.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.