Maxine Beaver, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, June 16th, 2025, at the age of 97. Maxine was born on Thursday, October 13th, 1927, in the same cherished town of Centralia, Illinois, where she lived her entire life.
Maxine was a beloved homemaker and a dedicated member of the Church of Christ. Her faith was a guiding light, exemplified by her warm spirit and generous heart. Known for her love of reading, crossword puzzles, gardening, canning, baking, and cooking, she found joy in the simple pleasures of life and the beauty of the outdoors. Above all, her greatest passion was her family, with whom she shared an unending love and devotion.
Maxine was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jim Beaver; her parents, Walter and Poet Vick; and her siblings, Imagene Boyd, Frances Halluin, Helen Bailey, and Walter Vick, Jr. She leaves behind a legacy of love through her surviving family: her three children—Dee Ann Kaufman and husband Dave of Charleston, SC, Mary Beth Molano and husband Walter of New Canaan, CT and Clay Beaver and wife Kyla of Centralia; five grandchildren—Mason Beaver and wife Megan, Brandon Beaver and wife Lauren, Olivia Beaver all of Centralia, Katie Molano of New York, and Collin Molano of Wilmington, Delaware; and four cherished great-grandchildren, Luke, Haidyn, Charli, and Brody.
Family, friends, and others whose lives Maxine touched are invited to celebrate her life at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia, Illinois. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19th, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a funeral service from 11:00 am to 11:30 am. In honor of Maxine’s nurturing spirit and devotion, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Maxine’s memory may be made to The Church of Christ and will be accepted at The Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street in Centralia, IL 62801 (618) 532-3523, who is honored to be of service to Maxine’s family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com or the Funeral Home’s Facebook page.