Maxine Meents' Obituary
Zula Maxine Meents, daughter of Hershel Stuart and Julia Evelyn Cansler Massie, was born June 7, 1920, near Long Lane, Missouri. She departed this life Wednesday, January 25, 2006, in the Richland Care Center, in Richland, Missouri, at the age of eighty-five years, seven months, and eighteen days. On March 11, 1939, she was united in marriage to Franklin Meents, and to this union two daughters and one son were born. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Franklin, on April 30, 2003; a granddaughter, Adrienne Lynne Windes; and a sister, Marie Carr Smith. Maxine is survived by two daughters, Beverley Windes, and her husband, George, of Richland, Missouri, and JoAnn Massey, and her husband, Floyd, of Lebanon, Missouri; a son, Howard Meents, and his wife, Cynthia, of Salida, California; seven grandchildren, Andrea Wallace, and her husband, William, Brent Windes, Brandon Windes, and his wife, Ashley, Kevin Massey, and his wife, Rachel, Kenyon Massey, and his wife, Tara, April and Jerod Meents; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Pansy Turner, Leoral Faye Akey, and Sonya Adkins, all of Lebanon, Missouri; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives, her church family, and many friends. She was raised on the family farm at Long Hollow, near Lebanon, in Laclede County, Missouri. She attended grade school at Gannon Country School and also attended two years of high school at Gannon. She then graduated from the Phillipsburg High School. She also attended college at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, but quit college to get married. In her earlier years, she worked in the County Extension office in the court house, for the H. D. Lee Company, and also sold Avon. Most of her married life she was a homemaker that lovingly raised their three children. Maxine was baptized into the Church of Christ in 1933 at the age of thirteen and was a devoted member of the Hayes Street Church of Christ in Lebanon. She was very involved in the Bland Country School, at the edge of Lebanon, where her children attended. She also served as the school clerk for many years. She loved gardening and canning, liked painting and sketching, meeting with her neighborhood club, and studying the Bible. She taught herself to play the guitar and also enjoyed teaching her daughters how to play. She always loved and enjoyed her family and many happy evenings were spent playing guitars and singing together. The family enjoyed traveling and always looked forward to vacation time each year. Her family and her church family were most important to her. Maxine was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 29, 2006, in the Holman-Howe Chapel, Lebanon. Burial will be in Mount Rose Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Saturday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri.
What’s your fondest memory of Maxine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Maxine?
Share a story where Maxine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Maxine you’ll never forget.
How did Maxine make you smile?