Maureen S Rabideau

Maureen St. Clair Claxton was born on October 6, 1934, the first-born child of Margaret (Callas) and Alfred John Claxton, in Kelowna, BC, Canada. She graduated from Rutland High School and then the Royal Columbian School of Nursing, in New Westminster, BC. She passed on February 25, 2021 at the age of 86 in Vancouver, WA.

Maureen started her nursing career at the Ilwaco Hospital in Washington State. While hitchhiking to Longview with two of her fellow nurses, she met her future husband, Clifford Roy Rabideau. They were married on November 1, 1957 in Kelso, WA. Maureen and Cliff had two children, Michael (Monique) Rabideau, Vancouver, WA and Patricia (Vernon) Lamoureux-Rabideau, Rainier, OR. Cliff passed in January of 1989.

Maureen worked as a surgical scrub nurse (RN) at Cowlitz General Hospital, Monticello Hospital, and finally, the offices of Dr. James Eustermann before retiring in 1988. She made life-long friends with her co-workers.

Maureen’s truest gifts were her grandchildren, Ian Rabideau, Yelm, WA, Katie (Kenny) Watkins, Longview, WA, Lindsey (Bryian) Peterson, Rainier, OR, Jake (Hannah) Faeber, Oregon City, OR, Jacob Czech, Battleground, WA, Jennifer Truluck, Tulsa, OK, Kristin (John) Schumacher, Vancouver, WA, and Robert Betschart, who pre-deceased her in July of 2020.

Gram’s brightest blessings were her great-grandchildren: Lia and Luke Rabideau, Macy and Hattie Watkins, Jazz Martinsen, and Cole Nolden.

Maureen is also survived by her younger brother, Kerry David Claxton and his wife, Gloria, Duncan, BC and her younger sister, Kathy and her husband Peter Nisse, Coldstream, BC. Maureen’s nieces and nephews were also dearly loved by her: Danny Claxton, Salmon Arm, BC, Stacie Prescott, Surrey, BC, Lisa Thompson, and Lynette Houghton, both of Kelowna, BC.

Maureen loved her family dearly. She line-danced with her friends at her 80th birthday party! She was active in her Lutheran church families in the Longview area. She loved to paint, knit, craft, and her family and friends all have special gifts that she created especially for them. In every sense of the word, she cared for each and every person that came into her life. Her beautiful smile lit up her face!

A small service will be held on Friday, March 26th at 1 p.m. at the Steele Chapel, Longview Memorial Park, in Longview, WA. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Hampton Salmon Creek Memory Care, especially Daniel, Chelsea, Jordan, Brady, Heather and Amber – you cared for our mom, grandmother, sister, as if she was your own.