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Idaho County Free Press Thursday, January 29, 1953 CORONER’S JURY Katherine O. Maynard Left Determined Time of Death Tuesday Katherine O. Maynard came to her death from exposure
according to the verdict reached by an Idaho county coroner’s jury who
investigated her death last Thursday. The body of Mrs. Maynard was found
Wednesday morning of last week by a searching party about 100 yards from the
Free Use Road about 12 miles east of White Bird. She had been missing from
her ranch home since about 9 o’clock Monday morning. The jury, composed of six of the seven men who
searched for Mrs. Maynard and assisted in bringing the body out to the road,
fixed the time of death as Tuesday. Mrs. Maynard left home Monday morning
to ride in search of strayed cattle. When she failed to return Monday
night it was believed she had spent the night with neighbors but when no trace
of her whereabouts was to be found, a search was instigated Tuesday. Clair Sherwin, James Paul and Earl Dillon, the three
men who found the body, testified as to the night search for the missing woman
and of finding her early Wednesday morning slumped in the snow, where she had
apparently fallen from exhaustion. Her faithful shepherd dog, who stood
vigil over the body of his mistress, led them directly to her when he dashed out
and barked at the men. It was also brought out at the inquest that Mrs.
Maynard’s horse had broken loose from the spot where she had left him tied
when she took off on foot to look for cattle. Her coat, with dry matches
in the pocket, had been left hanging where the horse was tethered. Other members of the jury, Howard Fullerton, Raymond
Stewart and Walter Wilson said they had nothing to add after hearing the
testimony of Sherwin, Paul, and Dillon. Coroner Pritchard Crowell conducted the inquest and
Ivan Woods, prosecuting attorney, questioned the witnesses. Miss Maynard was born March 2, 1914 in Spokane.
At the time of her birth her parents lived near Addy, Wash. Her parents
separated when about three years old and about a year later her mother married
John Painter, of Dixie, and Katherine made her home with them attending schools
in Spokane. In 1931, she married Clyde Painter and they lived on
the Painter Ranch near Dixie until 1939, when they moved to a ranch near White
Bird. They separated in 1940. In 1942, she married
Thomas Maynard and they continued to operate the ranch. Mrs. Maynard was a member of the White Bird Rebekah
Lodge. She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Mrs.
Josephine Gray of Lewiston; her mother, Mrs. Ellen G. Painter, who lived in
Lewiston, but who has been spending the winter with her daughter; her father,
John O. Jones in Washington. Funeral services were held at Robertson Funeral
Chapel Saturday afternoon at 2, the Rev. L.E. Tooley, of the Community church,
officiating. Mrs. Tooley provided both organ and vocal music. Pallbearers were Lee Griffith, Ross Bentz, Clair
Sherwin, Earl Dillon, Jim Paul and Oliver Dennison. Burial was in the
Prairie View Cemetery with the Rebekah Lodge in charge of services. Feb. 5, 1953 – Card of Thanks – We wish to express our sincere thanks
and appreciation to our many friends who were kind to us during our recent
bereavement and also for the beautiful floral offerings. Tom Maynard,
Josephine Gray and Mrs. Ellen Painter Submitted by Chris Cornett |
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