Monday, October 7, 2013

Farewell, Sister Brown

Our sweet, beautiful Maxine Stewart Brown, a longtime member of the B7 Ward, passed peacefully away on September 30, 2013, at her home surrounded by those she loved most in the world.  Maxine was one of six children born to Paul and Ethel Higbee Stewart in Alamo, Nevada where she lived until age 15 when she moved to Seattle.  There she attended Lincoln High School and eventually met her future husband, Shirl, with whom she would share her life for more than 71 years.  From their wedding day on June 4, 1942 in the Salt Lake Temple, she supported her husband through dental school at the University of Washington, while developing amazing talents as a homemaker, an excellent seamstress, outstanding cook and was a loving, nurturing mother to their five children. 

Maxine was grateful for her membership in the Church, frequently sharing her testimony with family, studying the gospel and willingly sharing her time and talents over the years in Relief Society service, as a temple worker and in the Young Women’s program.  Together, Shirl and Maxine served as name extraction / indexing volunteers for over 25 years.  After they retired to St. George in 1983, she – like many St. George retirees – enjoyed the chance to play after a lifetime of work.   She particularly indulged herself in tennis and bowling, even winning individual and team gold medals in competition in the Huntsman World Senior Games.  She also enjoyed board games with grandchildren and her membership in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers organization. 

The beloved matriarch of a family including five children, 23 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren will long be remembered for her gentle demeanor, her service to others and her love of family.  She will be missed!