Maxine Eleanor King

Maxine Eleanor (Ray) King passed away on January 13, 2017 in the nursing home in Smithville, Mo at the age of 100.

Maxine was born on February 23, 1916 in Denver, MO, to John and Alpha (Brown) Ray. She was married to Forrest (Tom) King in January 1935. She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law Debbie and Craig Southards of Trimble, MO, one daughter-in-law Jeannette King of Greentop, MO, five grandchildren Stacie (Fowler) Callahan and husband Dave of Smithville, MO, Chris Fowler and wife Brenda of Blue Springs MO, Randy King and wife Lori of Kirksville, MO, Tim King and wife Lisa of Greentop, MO, Patti (King) Craig and husband Ralph of Bayou Vista, TX. Eleven Great-Grandchildren survive: Alisha (King) Rinne and husband Kyle of Higginsville, MO, Erin (King) Soligo and husband Shane of Kansas City, MO, Katie (King) Allen and husband Kyle of Troy, MO, Heather King of St Joseph, MO, Samantha King of St Joseph, MO, Jordan King and Christian King of Greentop, MO, Chase Murdock of Smithville, MO, Adison Callahan and Callen Callahan of Smithville, MO, Bailey Fowler of Blue Springs MO. Her four Great-Great-Grandchildren are Morgan Rinne and Wyatt Rinne of Higginsville MO, Emma Soligo of Kansas City, MO and Claire Allen of Troy, MO. Maxine is also survived by one sister Annabel Crane of Farmington, New Mexico and several nieces and nephews.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Forrest E. (Tom) King, parents John and Alpha Ray, her infant son Stevie and son Ronal King, two brothers Jack and John Ray, two sisters Olive Ray and Wilma Joe.

Maxine attended Sheridan High School and graduated in 1933. After marriage, Tom and Maxine lived on a farm in Gaynor, MO before moving to Sheridan, MO where they remained until 1961 when they moved to Unionville, MO. Tom was Maxine’s one and only love. She survived him by 38 years and never had a thought of anyone who could replace him. Maxine attended the Christian Church in Sheridan and Unionville. She was truly blessed with the ladies from her Bible study class. She enjoyed entertaining them in her home and visiting theirs. She formed many strong friendships that developed in to lunches, shopping and just great fellowship. Maxine was a skilled seamstress, doing custom sewing and sewing outfits for her family and grandchildren. She could crochet and made countless hand stitched quilts. She entered many of her quilts in the Unionville Fair receiving blue ribbons. She took one quilt she called her Appliqued Quilt to Silver Dollar City to a judging and received a blue ribbon there. She was so proud of it. Maxine loved gardening and her flowers. She always had flowers both inside and outside of her home. She loved all flowers but had quite a green thumb for growing African Violets, there was almost always a garden cart inside her home full of them. There was an enormous Rhododendron on the northwest corner of the house that took over the entire corner. It was beautiful in full bloom and she was so proud of it. Maxine took great pride in the yard that she and Tom put together, she mowed and maintained it by herself for several years. She loved the birds and feeding them. She would set for hours on the patio and just watch them. Maxine could bake and cook like no one else. Her family dinners were incredible especially her Ham loaf. Her apple pie was always perfect and try as her family might it just never turns out the same. She loved baking and would take baked goods to her friends and neighbors. Maxine never drove and had to depend on friends and family for rides. She was lucky enough to have two grocery stores within walking distance. It was not uncommon to see Maxine walking to and from the grocery store with her supplies in hand. She wrote in her journal that she walked to Hy-Vee bringing home two sacks of groceries, then resting and walking to Bob’s and bringing home two more sacks of necessities. She was a very strong and determined lady. Maxine was able to care for herself in her home without issues until about 10 years ago. She spent a brief time in the assisted living apartments in Kirksville and then moved to the nursing home in Smithville where she could be assisted by her daughter Debbie. Maxine was a wonderful mother and grandmother and loved all of her family very much. She will be dearly missed by all, but we rejoice in the knowledge that she is at peace and at home with God, her beloved husband Tom, and her son’s Ron and Stevie. And we take comfort in the fact that we will see her again in Heaven.

Funeral services of Maxine King will be at Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, on Saturday, January 21, at 11:00 am. There will be no visitation. Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Unionville Cemetery and may be entrusted with Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.