Roberta Ruth (Shimek) Maier

Roberta Ruth (Shimek) Maier, 92, died on August 23 in Roseburg, daughter Cathy was at her side.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Floyd, her parents, John and Eunice Shimek, sister, Marialice Schrader and partner Vernon Wellsandt.

Roberta is survived by Terri Ste.Marie (Terry), Cathy Striegel, Chris Maier and Sally Brooks (Keith), eleven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She is “Megi” to her grandchildren and “Auntie Berta” to her numerous nieces and nephews. Other survivors include her sister, Irene Tenneson and her brother Jack Shimek. She was loved by one and all.

Born in Pasco in 1923, Roberta grew up on a farm east of Lind and attended school in Lind. She was a member of the graduating class of 1941. She married her high school sweetheart in 1942, and after WWII they moved to a farm south of Lind.

She then threw her energies into being a mother, farm wife and an active member in the community. She was a wonderful seamstress, gardener and cook. Her home and kitchen were always open, and she was “MOM” to many more kids than she actually gave birth to.

She and Floyd loved going to the Oregon Coast during the winter storms and collecting agates. They also raised Arabian horses and spent many a weekend attending horse shows with their youngest, Sally. Those were her favorite times.

Their pride and joy was the home they were able to buy at Deer Lake. We all have wonderful memories of times spent with them there.

After Floyd’s death in 1977, Roberta moved to Bellevue and worked at Queen Ann Card and Gift, owned by her sister and her husband, Harry and Irene Tenneson.Upon retiring from there, she moved to Deer Lake, and after the winters became too harsh for her, she moved into Spokane. During that time, she worked for Aunt Bea’s Estate Sales. Mom was never one to pass by a garage sale! It was her “dream job”.

Alzheimer’s Disease finally caught up with her, and she spent the last few years in Living Springs, a care facility in Post Falls. She moved with Cathy to Roseburg in June, and spent her remaining days surrounded by family, which was her wish.

Mom was an Elvis Presley fan, and we had his music playing for her when she died. He was singing “My Way”. And she certainly did! We miss you, Mom!

There will be a celebration of Roberta’s life next Spring on Mother’s Day weekend. We will post a notice with details closer to that time.