Maxine Leyner Hayward, 88, died Friday, April 5, 2013 at Good Samaritan Health Care Center in Alliance.
She was born May 29, 1924 in Whitman, NE to Richard E. and Nina (Taylor) Leyner. She was raised by her grandparents, Jay and Lois Taylor. Maxine graduated from Whitman High School as the class Valedictorian at the age of 15.
On August 12, 1939 she was united in marriage to Dean Hayward. He passed away just prior to their 60th anniversary on August 6, 1999.
They lived on a ranch north of Hyannis and also had land in Hooker County. They moved to Lakeside in May 1954 to the Albright Ranch. She was a ranch wife who drove machinery, learned to cook for large hay crews, move cattle and all of the many ranch jobs. They purchased a home in Alliance in 1959 and split their time between their homes in town and the ranch.
In January 1969 they became partners in Black’s Open Range Western Store in Alliance. In October of 1970 they purchased the store and operated it as Hayward’s Open Range until it’s closing on May 20, 1987. Maxine was a member of D.A.R., Does, and an extension club. She loved to travel mainly in the western parts of the country and she loved to read and do hard crossword puzzles.
She is survived by her daughter, Deanna and husband Bill Johnson of Alliance, her grandchildren, Debbie (B.J.) Hartley of Aurora, CO, Jay (Jodi) Johnson of Hemingford, her great-grandchildren, Emma (Paul) Briese, Jake (Amanda) Tolstedt, Dr. Calvin (Rayann) Tolstedt, Laura (Jeremy) Whitmire, Clayton Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Jayce Johnson and Jade (Caleb) Gasseling. She is also survived by her sister, Ruby (Warren) Besly of Amarillo, TX, and her aunt, Maxine Applegarth of Alliance.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Nels, her granddaughter, Lisa, and her brother, R.E. “Bud” Leyner.
Graveside services will be Thursday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the Whitman Cemetery with Rev. Cheryl Harris officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-7 p.m. at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given to Good Samaritan Health Care Center, P.O. Box 970, Alliance, NE 69301 or Prairie Haven Hospice, 2409 Box Butte Avenue, Alliance.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.