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Herald & News
June 14, 2009
Maxine Loosley Kizer
Memorial services for Maxine Loosley Kizer will be held on Saturday, June 20 at 1 p.m. at the Fort Klamath Methodist Church with Pastor Bob Adams officiating. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Crater Lake Resort on Highway 62 near Fort Klamath. Private family interment services were held at the Fort Klamath Cemetery at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 5.
Mrs. Kizer, 87, a native of Fort Klamath, Ore., died of natural causes at her residence at the Shasta View Retirement Community in Klamath Falls, on Tuesday, June 2. She was born to Raymond S. and Willeska M. Loosley on April 14, 1922 in a raging blizzard on the family farm homestead in Fort Klamath. This set the stage for the rest of her life, going where the winds blew her. Maxine attended one year of high school each in Fort Klamath, Malin, Medford and, her last year, Chiloquin High, where she graduated in 1940.
She earned a three year degree from Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Ore., in 1943. While attending OCE she met her future husband, Hollis D. Kizer, and they married on April 20, 1946 in Lubbock, Texas, after Hollis returned from the war in the Pacific. The couple settled in New Mexico in 1948 and had three children before returning to the family homestead in 1957. In 1963, she returned to OCE with her sister Lois for summer school and received her bachelor of science degree in 1964.
Maxine taught the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades at Fort Klamath Elementary School from 1958 until 1964. She then taught fourth grade at Chiloquin Elementary School until her retirement in 1983. Maxine was involved with the Fort Klamath community, holding offices with the CI Club, Fort Klamath Methodist Church board and was secretary/treasurer for the Fort Klamath Cemetery. She also belonged to the Cow Belles, Water for Life and Critical Habitat.
Prior to Hollis' death in 1977, the couple enjoyed camping with their travel trailer. After Maxine retired she continued to run the family ranch in the summer and spent the winters RVing throughout the country.
She joined Loners on Wheels (LOW) and later was instrumental in forming the Loners of America (LOA) organization, and belonged to the Orca Chapter and served as the national president for two years. Over 25 years, she wore out three motor homes traveling from Oregon to the Florida Keys, New England, and throughout the Midwest, always returning to Fort Klamath for the summer. Maxine's travels also took her to five continents, including Taiwan to visit her sister Ethelva and her husband, Larry. In 1987 she went to Kenya to see her sister Lois and her husband Olaf, who were there as missionaries. When age-related constraints limited Maxine's travels, she settled into the Shasta View Apartments (Clairmont) and immediately began organizing groups to play the many games she loved.
Maxine was a teacher and the lesson of her passing is to inspire everyone to enjoy life to the last day.
She was preceded in death by her husband Hollis, and her sisters, Ethelva and Joan. Survivors include her sisters, Marie Hughes of Pendleton, Ore., and Lois Carpenter of Turner, Ore.; brother, Wilfred Loosley of Vacaville, Calif.; her children, Kim and Bobbye Kizer of Ashland, Ore., Randall and Jeanie Kizer of Eugene, Ore., and Alexine and David Barker of Georgetown, Texas; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Remembrances may be sent to Water for Life, 8255 Hunziker St., Suite 200, Tigard, OR 97223.
Ward's Klamath Funeral Home (882-4404) is in charge of the arrangements.
