Maxine Mae McCormick Martin, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many was called home to Heaven to be with Jesus on December 28, 2024.
She was born on February 5, 1932, to Mary and Howard McCormick, in St. Louis, MO, but she was raised by grandparents, Rhoda and August Klebba, after the death of her mother, when Maxine was just 2 weeks old.
She grew up in Jefferson County, and attended Webb Grade School and Woodlawn High School. In March of 1948, she married Homer L. Martin, and they had 3 daughters, Aleta, Aneta and Phyllis. She became a widow in 1972.
She was a grandmother of 7, Celesta (Dewayne) Seaton, Rachel (Glenn) Shumaker, Misty (George) Stamogiannos, Ean Bevel (Jennifer Slaughter), Gwyn (Mike) Harbuck, Tyra Laffoon (Robbie Shigley), and Maegan (Nathanael) Musgrave. She was the great-grandmother of 9, Rachel, Jonathan, Mia, Max, Malachi, Anna, Aaron, Micah, and Elijah.
After raising her daughters to school age, she went to work at Murray Center in Centralia. She worked in food service for over 27 years. Even after retirement, she stayed busy in her garden, growing fresh vegetables to share with her family. Maxine loved the nature of God’s creation. She enjoyed watching the butterflies and feeding the birds in her backyard. She loved getting the family all together and cooking a big meal. During the winter months, she would spend hours at the sewing machine working on making each family member a special quilt. Receiving a quilt for Christmas became a tradition that will truly be missed.
She became a Christian over 70 years ago. She enjoyed reading her Bible and attending church until her health started to fail. Her life was focused on her family and spending as much time as possible with them. She had a special talent for rocking and singing babies to sleep for three generations. She was a great example to her family and friends and will always be remembered for her patience, kindness, and unconditional love.
Maxine is survived by her children, Aleta Bevel, Aneta Powell, and Phyllis Bailey. She is also survived by all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Along with her husband, Homer Martin, Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; and her brothers, Bill Bayliss, and Frank Bayliss.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 12, 2024, at Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia with Pastor Rodney Mellott officiating. Interment will follow at the Fouts Christian Church Cemetery. Friends and relatives are welcome to a visitation time from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in Maxine’s honor to Pine Haven Christian Children’s Ranch and School. Online condolences and memories of Maxine may be shared with her family by visiting maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
