Maurice Russell Truax

Maurice Russell Truax, 81, of Nampa, Idaho, and formerly of La Grande, Oregon, died November 5. A graveside service will be held on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Island City Cemetery. Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.
Maurice was born August 25, 1927, to Frank and Charlotte "Lottie" (Russell) Truax in Otter Tail County, MN.

Maurice left Minnesota when he joined the U.S. Navy in 1945. World War II ended while he was in boot camp in San Diego, CA. He served one year in the Aleutian Islands, relieving men who were stationed there during the war. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Upon returning to the Continental U.S., he ended up in Pendleton, where he started working for Shaeffer Radiator. This was also where he met his wife, Roberta Lee Tibbetts. They were married in La Grande on June 12, 1948.

In 1954 he moved his family to Hopkins, MO to farm a piece of land with Roberta's uncle. While living in Hopkins they attended Hopkins Baptist Church, where he was baptized and served as a deacon.

The family returned to La Grande in 1964 and built Valley Radiator. They owned and operated that business for over 40 years before selling to long-time employee Don (and Nita) Kelly.

Maurice was active in many civil organizations in the La Grande areas, including serving as President of Kiwanis for 2 terms. In his free time, he was an avid fisherman and also enjoyed hunting.

He is survived by his wife, Roberta of Nampa, ID; children, Rodney Truax of Nampa, ID, Sharon Hardin of Coeur d'Alene, ID, and Doug Truax of Peoria, AZ; siblings Charlotte Mickelson of Alexandria, MN, Laura Barnhart of Deer Creek, MN, Oliver "Pidge" Truax of Deer Creek, MN, Loma Snell of Centerville, MN, Norma Durant of Wyoming, MN, and Allen Truax of Lincoln NE; seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Melvin.

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