Madilene Marie Reeves

Madilene, Marie Reeves, 82, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho on Thursday April 19 2007. Internment will take place in Ft. Bidwell, California, where she will be buried next to her husband Wilford. Madilene was born on September 8, 1924 to Clifford and Zella (Burgett) Carson in Milfay, Oklahoma. Her early childhood was spent in Oklahoma, sometimes staying in a covered wagon moving from place to place while her father looked for work. Madilene married Johnnie William Cochran in Reno, Nevada in 1942. They had one son Johnnie Wayne Cochran. After her husband Johnnie was killed in WWII, Madilene moved to California where she married Wilford D. Reeves in Modesto, California in 1946. They were married for 48 years. They spent their married life in and around the Napa Valley, where she worked at Sugar Loaf Park for 25 years. After Wilford retired they moved to Ft. Bidwell, California where they enjoyed fishing, hunting and extended family. In 1985 Madilene and Wilford moved back to the Napa Valley where she went to work for Tomorrow Mountain Café. She could make the best Hamburgers around. Madilene enjoyed fishing at Lake Berryessa. She often said she’d rather fish than eat. Madilene moved to Sandpoint, Idaho in 2005 to be closer to her son John. She resided in The Bridge and later Life Care Center. She loved going for car rides in the mountains looking at the colors and animals. Madilene is survived by her son Johnnie and (Donna) Cochran and daughter Vivian and (Harold) Crittenden; 6 grand children: Dale Crittenden, Denise Bajsec, Debbie Crittenden, Charlotte Oakley, Danny Cochran and Melissa Dingler; 9 great grand children and 5 great-great grand children. Madilene was the third child of 11 brothers and sisters. Her brothers surviving her are Alvie and (Hattie) Carson, Delbert and (Claudette) Carson, Hugh and (Alice) Carson and her sisters surviving her are Dorothy and (Howard) Metcalf, Carlene Hawkins, Mona Graham and Alta Wilson. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Johnnie and Wilford, an infant daughter, her sons Gene, Tommy, Leslie, a great grand daughter Echo Oakley, a brother Clebert Carson and sisters Lorene O’brian and Marvette Carson. The family would like to thank Dr. Rust and Staff, The Bridge and Life Care Center for the love, support and wonderful care given to Madilene.