The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Maisie Franz Duge was born August 7, 1922, in Nashville, Tennessee to Lucile and Charles Franz, the youngest of their four children. She was raised and educated in the south, earning a Master of Education degree in a time when women were not encouraged to pursue higher learning. In 1942 she married Karl Duge, her childhood sweetheart and moved with him to Santa Monica, California where they both worked at Douglas Aircraft to support the war effort. In 1947, she achieved what she described as her “greatest accomplishment,” bringing her son Zeke into the world.

Maisie was a nationally ranked sharpshooter, an accomplished nautical navigator, and a designer and maker of custom sails. In 1985, she and Karl retired to their 46-foot sailboat that they built under Maisie’s watchful eye and keen sense of engineering. For 11 years they cruised the Pacific Coast from Mexico to San Francisco, surviving hurricanes and chubascos and making many friends along the way. In 2002 they became landlubbers once again and drove their 1930 Model A Ford across America from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles in 31 days.

In 2008 Maisie and Karl left California behind and moved to Sisters for their “second” retirement. Maisie loved to drive and when Karl passed away after 68 years of marriage, the one thing she wanted to do was to pick out her own car. After an intense search, she located a Maserati with a soft yellow exterior but with enough horsepower to keep her out of trouble. She adored driving it around town to attend the Council on Aging luncheons, play dominoes and Bunco, and participate in the monthly Solitaires events.

Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Maisie described her as “amazing.” As a staunch defender of fair play and responsibility, she was quick to support those who needed encouragement or assistance. She was kind, witty, and had a polished sense of humor with an appreciation for the absurd. She was a fiercely independent lady who always lived life to the fullest and never complained or made excuses. She is survived by her son Zeke and daughter-in-law Patti of Sisters and a large extended family. Maisie touched many lives and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.