Obituary of Maxine B. Smith

Maxine Blanche Smith, age 98, of Iola, Kansas, passed away on June 1, 2018, at Allen County Regional Hospital, Iola, Kansas. Maxine was born on February 26, 1920, in Neosho Falls, Kansas, to John Weiland and Grace Bigger Weiland.

Maxine attended rural school at Punkin Kolege east of Neosho Falls and graduated from the Neosho Falls High School in 1938.

Maxine married Arch Saferite in 1940. They later divorced. In 1954, she married Lyle Harvey. Mr. Harvey preceded her in death in 1963. Maxine married Ralph Smith in 1979. Mr. Smith preceded her in death in 2010.

Maxine worked at various businesses in the Iola area, including Ramsey's Department Store, H.L. Miller & Son dress factory, Security Savings & Loan, and Shetlar, Griffith, & Shetlar.

Maxine was a very caring, giving, and loving person. She took a genuine interest in getting to know people and learning about them and their families. When Maxine was younger, one of her greatest joys was going dancing. She enjoyed collecting dolls, pitchers, and plates. Maxine had a green thumb when it came to flowers, and had a beautiful garden she enjoyed working in. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. Some of her favorite times were spent going on annual trips to Nashville with her daughter to enjoy shows, listen to country music, and enjoy the sights around Nashville. She loved traveling to New Hampshire and spending time with her daughter and grandsons. She spent many years helping as a caregiver to her brother, sister, and in-laws. She was always thinking of others before herself.

Maxine is survived by one daughter, Tyra O'Rourke, Nashua, New Hampshire; one step-daughter, Jean Schaffer, Cheney, Kansas; one step-son, Robert Smith and wife, Adelle, Iola, Kansas; one sister, Rita Alderson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; two grandsons, Brendon O'Rourke, New York City, New York, and Shane O'Rourke and wife, Becky, Nashua, New Hampshire; one great granddaughter, Norah O'Rourke, Nashua, New Hampshire, one great granddaughter arriving in June, Zoe O'Rourke; eight step-grandchildren; nine step-great grandchildren, and one step-great-great grandson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Maxine was preceded in death by her second husband, Lyle Harvey; and by her third husband, Ralph Smith; her parents; four sisters, Florence Henderson, Eva Rawlings, Imilda Danielson, Elora O'Hara; six brothers, Curtis Weiland, Al Weiland, Kenneth Weiland, Clifford "Chig" Weiland, Leslie Weiland, and Chance Weiland.

A visitation will be held Monday, June 4, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, Iola. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at Wesley United Methodist Church, Iola.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested either to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Iola or to the Neosho Falls United Methodist Church in Neosho Falls, Kansas, and may left at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.