We lost a gentle, compassionate, and generous soul when Joanne Elizabeth Maynard departed this world for the next on December 14, 2015, after a lengthy illness. She was 84 years old.
Joanne was born “trailing clouds of glory” on June 13, 1931, to George (Shorty) and Mary Elizabeth (Babe) Huber, in Helena. Joanne and her sister, Gretchen, were raised in a loving, creative and laughter-filled home. The Huber family performed puppet shows in the Helena area, and once traveled to Oklahoma City for a puppetry convention, in 1948 when Joanne was in high school.
After graduating from Helena High School, Joanne married Donald Edward Maynard in 1949. In their first three years of marriage, three children were born–Robin, Don, and David–and Joanne entered a contest put on by Holly Furniture in which they searched for the “tiredest woman in town.” Based on the “originality, cleverness, and neatness” of the jingle and drawing she submitted, she won the title and a new Beautyrest mattress and foam rubber pillow.
Four more children were soon born to Joanne and Don–Polly, Morgan, Phillip, and Andy. The couple later divorced in 1971.
Joanne loved books and music, and she raised her children on The Hobbit, the Chronicles of Narnia, and Mary Poppins, along with the Kingston Trio; Peter, Paul, and Mary; the Beatles; and Donovan. Later favorite books included any British murder mystery, and books by Dickens and Barbara Pym.
Joanne once worked at KCAP radio station, writing inventive ad copy. She worked as a secretary for the Episcopal Diocese of Montana, and later for St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral. Joanne was a life-long member of the Episcopal Church and became a leader and a beloved figure in her church community. Joanne believed that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,” and she lived her faith by serving on many committees and in organizations working for social justice and peace. She volunteered in many ways to help the disadvantaged and broken. Joanne wrote meditations on her life and faith for publication in church magazines. A little book of her writings, The Burning Mushroom, was printed by Forward Movement Publications and her daily meditations were published in the book Forward Day by Day.
The friends of Joanne’s children always wished they had a mother as sweet, funny, and accepting as Joanne. She will be remembered for her wit, her boundless ingenuity, her cheerful whistling, her always full cookie jar, and her endless cups of tea and quiet companionship.
Two highlights in Joanne’s life were her trips with Gretchen to Wales, the ancestral home.
Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Shorty and Babe Huber, and her dear son Andy. Joanne is survived by her sister, Gretchen Olheiser (Joe), her two special nephews, Mike Nelson and George Nelson, her children Robin, Don (Judy), David (Sharva), Polly Carter (Hurrell), Morgan, and Phillip (Cathy), along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 19th at the St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral, 511 N. Park Avenue. A Reception will follow in the Parish Hall of the Church. Memorials in Joanne’s name may be given to God’s Love, the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, or one’s choice of non-profit organization. Please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Joanne.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
2:00 p.m.
Saturday December 19, 2015
St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral
511 N. Park Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Following the Service
Saturday December 19, 2015
St. Peter’s Cathedral Paish Hall
511 N. Park Avenue
Helena , Montana 59601
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Joni Brooks says
To Joanne’s family,
I am so sorry to see she passed away! She was such a sweet sweet soul! You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Patty Brown/King says
Joanne was always kind and nonjudgmental to all her children’s friends, she offered safe haven to all that came. A true Christian woman, her faith was pure and gave her great comfort. Our world lost a great soul but we have such wonderful memory’s to keep… Godspeed my friend
Sherry Deming says
So sorry to hear about Joanne and also sorry to not make funeral. I think about her every Christmas because one of my treasures is the Christmas felt stocking she made us. I’ve somewhat replicated it for my family. I can see her in my mind sitting in the kitchen in the house on Hauser. Lots of good memories. Also the picture you shared for this page makes me smile cuz I see every one of her children, ( my cousins) in her face….Will be thinking of all of you today. Also I put some of moms photos in an album and there were fun ones of Joanne. Looked like maybe graduation and wedding along with some from the infamous “old cabin”. She was a special person, how lucky you all were to have her! Prayers, thoughts and Hugs. Sherry