Roberta Marie Maple, of Tonasket, died Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at her home, surrounded by her friends and family.

Roberta was born on Dec. 29, 1941, to Bev and Martha Conner in Tonasket. When she was six months old, her father, a rodeo star, drowned while preparing for the Omak Suicide Race. After her father’s death, her mother married Charlie Atchison, who adored Roberta and doted on her. They lived briefly in Texas and California, where Charlie was stationed during WWII, before returning to the Tonasket area. She attended Wauconda and Tonasket Elementary Schools. As a child, she loved riding stick and real horses. She was athletic and the fastest girl in school. She graduated from Tonasket High School in 1960, and went to Kinman Business School in Spokane for one year.

She eloped with Bill Maple on Sept. 8, 1962. They had three children and lived in the same home in Tonasket for 43 years, until a fire in 2004. Along with having an amazing green thumb, Roberta enjoyed dancing, caring for her family, and she was a loyal friend. She adored her grandchildren and her cats.

Roberta was preceded in death by her mother, Martha; father, Charlie Atchison; and infant brother, Jack.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Maple; children: Sharla (Greg) Austin and Heather (Jay) Fox, all of Chelan and Jon (Michelle) Maple of Olympia; four grandchildren: Sydney and Darcy Austin and Lyndsey and Easton Fox; and her siblings, Don (Patricia) Atchison, Chuck (Terri) Atchison and Carlene (John) Denison, all of Tonasket.

She will be missed dearly.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, July 23, 2010 at the Tonasket Eagles at 11 a.m.

Legacy Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted with caring for the family. www.legacymemorial.info