A Memorial Service for Maxine Morrison Machen will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. at Peachtree Village, 1301 W. Country Club Rd., Roswell, NM, to be officiated by her pastor, Bro. Richard Grisham. A loving mother, grandmother and good friend, Maxine passed from this life into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 25, 2015, at the age of 92. A private graveside service was held April 29, 2015.
The first child of Harvey L. Roush and Bernice Eaton Roush, Maxine was born on January 30, 1923, in Oakland, CA, as she loved to relate, in a hospital overlooking an artichoke patch. She grew up in Oakland with her younger sister, Nadine. She spent seven years in and out of the Shriner’s Orthopedic Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, and often shared her gratitude for the great love and compassion she experienced there. In June of 1941 Maxine graduated from Oakland Technical High School and helped in the war effort through her work at Marchant’s Calculator Company.
Maxine fell in love with John Foch (J.F. – Jeff) Morrison, her sailor boy, at the beginning of WWII. After being separated 19 long months, they married during his shore leave in June of 1943, then were again separated for almost as many more. Becoming very sick during her mid-20s, Maxine and Jeff moved to Phoenix, AZ where she healed by basking in the sunshine and solitude of an orange grove and eating her mother-in-law’s good cooking. She expressed her thankfulness for this illness as both she and her husband came to know Jesus Christ as their Savior during this time. They later moved to Brownwood, Texas, where Jeff earned a ministerial degree at Howard Payne College and Maxine became a mother. Two daughters were born to the Morrison clan in Texas: Lanice and Tressa. Finally settling in Hobbs, NM, they attended Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, where Maxine taught Sunbeams, a children’s ministry, as her children grew up, as well as working for Lea General Hospital, J.C. Penney’s and the State of New Mexico’s Health Department.
The family moved to Roswell in 1967 where they joined South Manor Baptist Church and later First Baptist Church. After 32 years in a loving marriage with Maxine, Jeff passed away in 1975 following a long illness.
Maxine spent 25 years as a social worker with the State of New Mexico’s Children’s Medical Services here in Roswell. Assisting families with their sick children was her calling, not just a job. Maxine did everything possible to help these children, just as if they were her own. Many lasting friendships were forged during this time.
She taught adult Sunday school at First Baptist Church here in Roswell for many years. Maxine met Harry Machen when he became the substitute teacher for her Sunday school class. Several years later, after the death of his wife Pat, Maxine and Harry fell in love, marrying on August 8, 2001. During their 12 year marriage, Maxine was blessed by inheriting a second family, Harry’s two sons and two daughters, their children and grandchildren. Harry passed away August 1. 2013.
Maxine loved and served the Lord Jesus and her heart’s desire was to know Him better, spending many hours praying, and reading and studying her Bible. A great mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and true friend, she had a servant’s heart and loved doing for others and spending time with her family and friends. She was a hard worker and never sought the limelight. She loved singing and music of most every kind, finding time to take piano lessons after she retired. She loved writing short stories and writing down her thoughts, flowers and gardening, playing dominoes and card games with friends, crocheting baby blankets and knitting dishcloths for her friends, and greatly enjoyed time spent fishing.
Maxine is survived by and will be greatly missed by her family: Lanice White, her husband Gary White, of Roswell, and their daughter, Terry Kay Gilbert, her husband, Brian Gilbert, and their four children: Holly, Christine, Chase and Spencer of Las Cruces, NM; and Tressa Caddell, her husband, Joe Caddell, and son, Neil and his wife, Yvette, all of San Antonio, TX; Harry’s children: Don Machen, his late wife, Carol, and their five children, of Metamora, Illinois; Chris Wilkes and her husband, Larry, and their five children, of Coffeyvilley, KS; Russ Machen and his wife, Ann, and their two children, of Cortez, CO; and Jane Machen of Hudson Falls, NY. Our mother, Maxine, truly embodies the truth of Provers 31:28 which says: “Her children will rise up and call her blessed.” We have truly been blessed by having Maxine as our mother.
We, her family, wish to thank the staff of Peachtree Village where Maxine lived for the last 10 years, for their love and many kindness, as well as the nurses, volunteers and chaplain of Gentiva Hospice for the wonderful, kind and loving support extended to Maxine and to her children during her illness.
Donation remembrances in Maxine’s honor may be made to Ezra International, P.O. Box 120926, Clermont, FL 34712-0926, ezrainternational.org, or to a charity of your choice.
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