Friends and Neighbors: Maxine James

Though she neared 101 years of age on Aug. 21, 2017, Kimball's Maxine James was able to watch a total solar eclipse for the first time.

Maxine celebrated her birthday early, she turns 101 on September 11, by watching the "once-in-a-lifetime" event with family.

At 100 years of age, she would have had the opportunity to view this phenomenon just twice in her lifetime in the United States before this year. The first, on March 7, 1970 in the Gulf of Mexico or just nine years later, on Feb. 26, 1979 in the Pacific Northwest. Maxine was not in the right place at the right time until this year.

Not only did she get to view the eclipse, she traveled to Scottsbluff to enjoy the full experience with granddaughter Roxanne Doogan, her husband Bill and daughter Leah.

Maxine moved to Kimball from Alliance in 1949 with her late husband, Neil, and the two ran the Kimball Locker Plant for many years. They had two children, both of whom have passed away.

"Even through the passing of her husband and both of her children, my grandma is one of the most cheerful, positive and grateful human beings I know," Roxanne said.

Today Maxine lives at Park Terrace, and she celebrates her 101st birthday on Sunday, September 10 with friends and family.