Obituary for Maxine Whilma Pilon
Maxine Whilma Pilon passed away of natural causes on December 10 in Federal Way, Wash. She was 96 years old.
A longtime resident of Eugene, Mrs. Pilon was born Maxine Whilma Likkel to A. John Likkel and Helen Haveman on November 10, 1927, in Eagle Butte, SD. As a child, her family moved to Grangeville, ID and then when she was 12 to Lynden, WA, where she graduated from Lynden Public High School in 1947.
In 1948, she married Melvin James Pilon and the two moved to Lane County, spending several years in Veneta, Ore., and ultimately settling in South Eugene in 1964. Melvin and Maxine raised four children: Myron, Linda, Ronda and James (Jim). She was an active room mother and Boy and Girl Scout leader in the Veneta years. In Eugene Maxine went back to school at Lane Community VocTech (later College) and earned a bookkeeping degree. She then worked as a purchaser for the Lane Intermediate Education District for 7 years. When she retired, they hired two people to replace her!
Pilon was an avid community servant, including decades of involvement with her longtime church, the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the University of Oregon Mothers Club, Church Women United, and in 1999, she received the Lane County Volunteer of the Year Award. She hosted University of Oregon foreign exchange students from all over the world in her home for more than 30 years, becoming a beloved “second mom” to many. Maxine also got involved in home nursing and trained others as well. She and her husband, Mel, enjoyed taking classes at Lane CC, Spanish and reupholstering being examples.
In 2012 she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law in Washington state where she happily lived her remaining years. For those who knew Maxine’s sweet and amiable nature, be assured she remained that way through her last day! Living in Washington gave her great pleasure in being able to more frequently see members of her family in and around Lynden and many cousins and friends. In the earlier years she was also able to travel and see her grandkids and great-grandkids and reunite with cousins she hadn’t seen in over 70 years!
Maxine devoted herself to myriad political and activism efforts, largely focused on social justice. She campaigned against homelessness, poverty, war, and advocated and fundraised for increased aid for women and children in Africa and Central America.
In addition to a lifelong love of gardening, sewing, and neighborhood power walking, Maxine was a regular with friends at Humble Bagel, Allann Brothers Coffee and the McDonald’s on Willamette St.
She is survived by her four children: Myron Pilon of Eugene, Linda Renfro (Guy) of Federal Way WA, Ronda Pilon (Bob Roschke) of Chicago, Jim Pilon (Carol Ashley) of Bothell WA, six grandchildren (Sarna Becker (Brent), Tal Renfro (Maria), Trystan DaMore (Mike), Gabriel Renfro (Shalini), Andrew Pilon and Mary Pilon) and 11 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Melvin, in 1981 and a daughter-in-law, Carol Lynn Morse, in 2004.
The family would like to add a special heartfelt note of appreciation to our caregiver of the last 4 years, Trish DeLand, for her always available, kind and gentle spirit with Mom.
Well done, Mom, good and faithful servant. Services will be announced at a later date.
A longtime resident of Eugene, Mrs. Pilon was born Maxine Whilma Likkel to A. John Likkel and Helen Haveman on November 10, 1927, in Eagle Butte, SD. As a child, her family moved to Grangeville, ID and then when she was 12 to Lynden, WA, where she graduated from Lynden Public High School in 1947.
In 1948, she married Melvin James Pilon and the two moved to Lane County, spending several years in Veneta, Ore., and ultimately settling in South Eugene in 1964. Melvin and Maxine raised four children: Myron, Linda, Ronda and James (Jim). She was an active room mother and Boy and Girl Scout leader in the Veneta years. In Eugene Maxine went back to school at Lane Community VocTech (later College) and earned a bookkeeping degree. She then worked as a purchaser for the Lane Intermediate Education District for 7 years. When she retired, they hired two people to replace her!
Pilon was an avid community servant, including decades of involvement with her longtime church, the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the University of Oregon Mothers Club, Church Women United, and in 1999, she received the Lane County Volunteer of the Year Award. She hosted University of Oregon foreign exchange students from all over the world in her home for more than 30 years, becoming a beloved “second mom” to many. Maxine also got involved in home nursing and trained others as well. She and her husband, Mel, enjoyed taking classes at Lane CC, Spanish and reupholstering being examples.
In 2012 she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law in Washington state where she happily lived her remaining years. For those who knew Maxine’s sweet and amiable nature, be assured she remained that way through her last day! Living in Washington gave her great pleasure in being able to more frequently see members of her family in and around Lynden and many cousins and friends. In the earlier years she was also able to travel and see her grandkids and great-grandkids and reunite with cousins she hadn’t seen in over 70 years!
Maxine devoted herself to myriad political and activism efforts, largely focused on social justice. She campaigned against homelessness, poverty, war, and advocated and fundraised for increased aid for women and children in Africa and Central America.
In addition to a lifelong love of gardening, sewing, and neighborhood power walking, Maxine was a regular with friends at Humble Bagel, Allann Brothers Coffee and the McDonald’s on Willamette St.
She is survived by her four children: Myron Pilon of Eugene, Linda Renfro (Guy) of Federal Way WA, Ronda Pilon (Bob Roschke) of Chicago, Jim Pilon (Carol Ashley) of Bothell WA, six grandchildren (Sarna Becker (Brent), Tal Renfro (Maria), Trystan DaMore (Mike), Gabriel Renfro (Shalini), Andrew Pilon and Mary Pilon) and 11 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Melvin, in 1981 and a daughter-in-law, Carol Lynn Morse, in 2004.
The family would like to add a special heartfelt note of appreciation to our caregiver of the last 4 years, Trish DeLand, for her always available, kind and gentle spirit with Mom.
Well done, Mom, good and faithful servant. Services will be announced at a later date.