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We Will Miss You,
PAGE 22 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2020

Florence!

SAD TO SAY FAREWELL TO DOODLE CREATOR, FLORENCE PAXTON.

Florence Lucille Chadez Paxton, 94, of
Homedale, Idaho, passed away peacefully
at home at sunset on July 6, 2020.
Florence was born December 6, 1925 on
the family farm to John and Mary Chadez.
Florence lived her entire life in view of what
she called “my beautiful Owyhee Mountains.”
As a young woman of the Greatest
Generation, Florence endured the privations
of the Great Depression and the rationing
of the war years. By the age of 16, Florence
was doing the work of a man on the family
farm, working horses and milking cows, to
help support the family and the war effort.
In her spare time, Florence volunteered
for USO functions. She made her own uni-
form to wear while selling War and Victory
Bonds, working scrap drives to collect iron,
rubber, and kitchen grease for the war
effort. She donated blood, which she con-
tinued to do throughout her life.
Perhaps her most heroic work involved
the countless “letters from home” that
she wrote to her loved ones, friends, and
classmates in action overseas. Lifting the
morale of those in harm’s way could never
be measured.
A hero of the home front, Florence was
a lifetime member and volunteer of the
American Legion Auxiliary and proudly flew
the American flag, keeping its colors vibrant
and mending it when it began to fray.
A graduate of Homedale High School,
class of 1944, Florence married her high
school sweetheart, Robert Paxton, on
November 13, 1949. They raised their chil-
dren on the family farm in Central Cove.
Florence was an accomplished artist in
crocheting, knitting, painting and drawing.
At one point, she even carved a chipmunk Florence Lucille Chadez Paxton, 94, of Homedale, Idaho, created the Doodle puzzles for the Idaho Senior
from a block of wood. Independent and sister paper Montana Senior News. She passed away peacefully at home at sunset on
For the last years of her life, she drew July 6, 2020. She will be truly missed. Photo courtesy of the Paxton family.
hidden picture puzzles that were published
in the Idaho Senior Independent and Montana She was proud of her hometown, sons Bob (Cathi) Paxton, Matt (Brenda)
Senior News. Homedale, and the community she loved. Paxton, and Jim (Kym) Paxton. She is
She loved music and shared it through She participated every year in the Owyhee also survived by her grandchildren John,
her beautiful voice. She also loved play- County Fair since the age of five, and was Tony, and Mike Lowder and families, Elias
ing the violin, accordion, and piano. Her the sponsor for the Youth, First Time and Daria Paxton, Jessie and McKenzie
love of music lives on in her children and Exhibition category. She had bushel bas- Mangun, Roger and Mark Ports and fam-
grandchildren. kets full of ribbons and rosettas from all ilies, as well as nine great-grandchildren
Florence received her license in categories of the fair. and eight great-great grandchildren.
Cosmetology in 1947 and kept her license Florence knew no strangers, and so She is also survived by many “adopted”
current until her passing. She had an many considered her as a mother and sons and daughters. She was preceded in
in-home business, but also made it mobile grandmother. She loved so many, and was death by her parents, brothers John Chadez,
when love called for it. loved by all who knew her. Ted Chadez, sisters Dorothy Mansisidor and
A full-blooded Slovenian, Florence was It would bless her and her memory if you Mary Cegnar, nieces Carol Cegnar, Terri
always proud of her heritage in the Austrian offered a kindness to others, particularly Davis, and nephew Dan Cegnar.
Settlement. She enjoyed baking Slovenian those who have no one to pray for them. The family wishes to thank the many
“potica” and homemade bread, which she Her heart reflected the prayer of St. Francis health care professionals who treated our
shared with friends and family. Her bread of Assisi, “Lord, make me an instrument of mother with love and compassion. A celebra-
became known as “Grandma bread, made your peace.” tion of life will be held later in the year. MSN
with love.” Florence is survived by her brother
Eddie Chadez, daughter Colleen Paxton,