Juanita Ruth Maki

Juanita Ruth Shook Maki, 84, of Darby, Montana, passed away July 21, 2026 at 7:59 a.m. at her daughter’s home in Tennessee.

Juanita was born May 25th, 1942, in Hamilton, Montana. The daughter of the late Walter Eugen and Vivian Ruth Cornish Shook.

Juanita was raised in several logging camps till the family came to settle in Conner, Montana. She attended school in Darby and in her senior year married John Palin. After finishing her high school education, Juanita attended Floral school in Colorado where she graduated with honors.

Juanita and John had two children, Del Lee and Holly Marie. After their divorce, Juanita and the children made their home in Conner, Montana and Juanita became a nurse’s aide at Marcus Daly Hospital in Hamilton.

Juanita married Clifford Dale Maki on December 31st, 1965, and Dale adopted Del and Holly a couple of years later. The family made their home in Darby, Montana.

Juanita wore many hats in her lifetime. Nurses aid, custodian at the Darby Post office as well as the Darby School, and no one could count the number of wedding cakes or wedding flowers she made for people all over the Valley. She was a 4-H leader, member of the local Garden club, and a member of the Bitterroot Gem and Mineral society. She helped at the Hamilton Grange Oyster Dinners and was a member of the Elks and Eagles clubs. Juanita was active in the Darby Credit Union from the beginning up till 2010 and was an active member of the Conner Wesleyan Church all her life. She was also on several bowling Legues with Dale as her partner. She enjoyed several hobbies such as scrapbooking and card making and her family was the center of her world. Her favorite job was driving school bus for the Darby school district which she did for 19 years. She enjoyed the different events she got to drive the kids to and all the kids on her East Fork route held a special place in her heart. She was a caregiver for several family members. She helped raise her niece, Helen May Shook Jarvis and thought of her more as a daughter than niece.

In 1990, Juanita opened a ceramic shop just south of Darby. She enjoyed helping people paint and often had after-school classes for children. After suffering vision problems, she was forced to close the business but still helped the local clay workers by firing their projects.

She is survived by her son, Del Lee (Connie) Maki of Darby, MT Her Daughter, Holly Marie Maki of Harrogate, Tennessee, 5 Grandchildren, Kyle Ray (Nikki) Maki of Darby, MT., Ty Montana Billings of Harrogate, Tennessee, Jessi Dakota Billings of Knoxville, Tennessee, Cody Wyoming (Angelica) Billings of Harrogate, Tennessee, and Farrli Texas Billings of Hamilton, MT; Along with 5 Great-Granddaughters, Rylee Rhea Maki, Asslynn Jane Maki, Leanna Kay Maki, Sophie Grace Billings, and Addison Marie Billings;

As well as Helen May (Preston) Jarvis, Auston (Savannah) Shook, Zoe (Gunner) Jarvis Johnson, and Tatom Jarvis; She also leaves behind several loving family members and lifelong friends.

A celebration of Juanita’s life will be held in May 2027.