Homedale High School

Class of 1965

    Parents of Tony Maher

Owyhee Avalanche

February 26, 2003

           Frank Maher

            Frank Maher 85 of Caldwell, died Monday, February 17, 2003 at a Caldwell hospital. Memorial services were held at 7:00 PM Sunday, February 23, 2003 at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Homedale. Memorial Mass was held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, February 24, 2003 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Jordan Valley.

            Frank was born November 11, 1917 in Boise, a son and grandson of early pioneer livestock producers. He was the elder son of Ambrose and Ethel Maher. Frank went to a one room log school house at Cliffs, Idaho, and graduated from high school in Jordan Valley, Oregon. On April 3, 1938 he married Louise Panzeri at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Nampa. Their first home was at the Brewster in Cliffs where Charley and Anita were born. He worked for his uncle for $50.00 a month and owned 50 head of cows. In 1941 he purchased the Foster Ranch in the area and Ilene and Tony were born. He continued ranching in the area until 1955 and moved to Homedale.

            He was a lifetime member of the Owyhee Cattleman’s Association and served as its president for two terms. Frank was a charter member of the Owyhee County Rodeo and served as an honorary board member for the past few years. He was also a member of the Jordan Valley Rodeo Board. He was the pickup man for both rodeos for many years. He and Jack Staples were part of the team of Malheur County ropers to win a “big Loop” rope off between Harney and Malheur County ropers. There was a purse of $1,000.00. In the early 90’s he was one of the first recipients to receive honors presented by the Idaho Cattleman’s Association for “A Million Miles in the Saddle.” He really was close to that.

            He was known for his rawhide work, be it braiding riatas or hackamores. All his children had rawhide ropes he braided as well as chinks that were handmade by him and he made his wife a beautiful leather jacket. He always rode big thoroughbred horses and never believed in riding a gentle one. He even raised remount horses for the Calvary. A number of his saddle horses ended up in bucking strings and some went to the NFR. He was very well read so he was up on the latest that had to do with the cattle industry. He was always trying to improve his herd with bigger and better cows with more milk. He was one of the earlier ones to realize there was a market for crossbred cattle. Because he always lived a long way from anybody he became adept at taking care of his livestock from a prolapse to a caesarian to stitching up wounds.           

            He was a great teacher by example. His vocabulary was often colorful but one word that was never a part of it was “Can’t.” That word was never an option for the kids when they were growing up. You did whatever it took and made it work.

            Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Louise, children, Charley and Jean of Diamond, OR; Anita and Tom Gluch of Jordan Valley; Ilene and Jerry Canning of Caldwell; and Tony and Cindy Maher of Boise; grandchildren, Dan, Todd and Tyra Gluch, J.T. and Ryan Canning, Toni Siegner, Crissy Rea and David Maher and Scott Maher, great grandchildren, Chelsea and Charli Seigner, Nicholas, Emily and Trae Gluch, Alek Rea and Lane Maher, brothers and sisters, Charlie Maher of Emmett; George Maher of Boise; Ruby Staples and Gertrude Anderson of Jordan Valley; Agnes Payne of Nampa; Irene Foster of Star; and Margie Hemmert of Boise; and many nephews and nieces. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Ambrose and Ethel, a sister, Mary Greenwald, a grandson, Nick Maher, and three nephews.

            Memorials may be given to the Nick Maher Scholarship Fund at BSU c/o of Flahiff Funeral Chapel, PO Box 726, Caldwell, ID 83606

            A special thanks to the West Valley Medical Center Medical Staff.

Louise M. Panzeri Maher

            Louise Maher was born in 1919 and currently resides in Caldwell.

Owyhee Avalanche – Special Edition

July 30, 2003

            Frank Maher, OCA life member and past president, remembered

            Frank Maher was born on November 11, 1917 in Boise to Ambrose and Ethel Maher. He died on February 17, 2003 at the age of 85.

            He was a lifetime member of the Owyhee Cattlemen’s Association and served as its president for two terms. Frank was a charter member of the Owyhee County Rodeo and served as an honorary board member for the past few years. He was also a member of the Jordan Valley Rodeo Board. He was the pickup man for both rodeos for many years.

            He and Jack Staples were part of the team of Malheur County ropers to win a “Big Loop” ropeoff between Harney and Malheur County ropers. There was a purse of $1,000. In the early ’90s he was one of the first recipients to receive honors presented by the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association for “A Million Miles in the Saddle.” He really was close to that.

            He was known for his rawhide work, be it braiding riatas or hackamores. All his children had rawhide ropes he braided as well as chinks that were handmade by him and he made his wife a beautiful leather jacket. He always rode big thoroughbred horses and never believed in riding a gentle one.

            He even raised remount horses for the Cavalry. A number of his saddle horses ended up in bucking strings and some went to the NFR.

            A memorial Mass was held on Feb. 24 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Jordan Valley.