Obituary: Ainslie, Maxine (Vanos)
Age 85
Her parents were Christ and Amelia Herman.
Amelia died when mom was about three years old and she was then raised by her father and grandmother.
The family eventually settled in Colfax, WA.
Mom was a great athlete.
She played everything that a woman was allowed in those days.
She was also a cheerleader and a life guard at the local pool.
During WWII, Mom worked in the pea cannery in Dayton, WA.
After the war, Mom married Albert Vanos, and in 1947 they had their first child, Ronald Vanos.
Their second and third children, Cris Vanos and Linda Vanos, were twins born on Mom’s birthday.
Wow, what a present.
In the mid-1950’s the family left Colfax and moved to Spokane.
There, Mom learned to garden and care for three beautiful homes.
Mom was still involved with sports, softball, bowling, curling and this new found thing golf.
In 1977 Mom was divorced and remarried the love of her life Dr. John Ainslie.
Mom and “Jack”, as we call him, were golf crazy, playing for many years at Manito C.C.
in the summer, and Indio, CA.
in the winter.
As Mom got older she and Jack still played golf twice a week, with gardening and playing cards with friends filling in some of the days, and a little gambling too!
Although her family was scattered she also spent hours sorting pictures, sending cards, and keeping up with all of them.
In August of 2012 Mom got sick with ovarian cancer.
The fight was on and she tried everything, but her age was against her.
Mom spent the last three months of her life at Hospice House of Spokane.
Our family cannot thank the doctors, nurses, L.P.N.s, cooks and volunteers enough.
The hours that Mom spent with them will never be forgotten by our family.
If angel’s walk on earth they are the nurses of Hospice House.
Mom is preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Louie Herman and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mom is survived by her best friend and husband, Dr. John Ainslie; sons, Ronald Vanos (Teri) and Cris Vanos (Ann); daughter, Linda Bassett (Barry); grandchildren, Code Vanos (Kim), Sean Vanos (Krista), Daniel Vanos, and Katie Dorris (Matt); great-grandchildren, Morgan, Connor, Stella, Lola, Kyla and Cayden.
On the Ainslie side of her family, mom is survived by sons Kirk Ainslie (Dodie) and Bruce Ainslie, and daughter Jean Brumbley (Stevens); grandchildren, Sara Brumbley, Jean Aquirre (Roger), Robb Ainslie (Amy), Erin Ainslie and Kristi Ainslie; great-grandchildren.
Megan, Simon, Erica, Elliot, Austin, Isabella, Ethan, Sicily and Cayle.
At Mom’s request there will be no memorial service, she will be buried privately by her family at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
The family suggests that any memorials be sent to Hospice House of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane, Washington, 99210-2215.
To view Maxine’s online tribute, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements entrusted to