Virginia Maxine Willhite

Maxine Willhite, 80, Lawrence, died Friday July 20, 2007, at Pioneer Ridge Nursing Center, Lawrence. She was born Sept. 25, 1926, at Burlingame to Vernie Francis and Iva Maxine (Patterson) Carmichael. She lived in Ottawa since 1949, moving from Burlingame. Maxine graduated from Burlingame High School in Burlingame, Kansas with the class of 1944 and Ottawa University in 1949, with a degree in Elementary Education. Maxine was a school teacher. She taught one year at Lane High School, one year at Liberty School, a one-room school; then worked for Ottawa U.S.D. 290, teaching three years at Lincoln Elementary and twenty-four years at Hawthorne Elementary, retiring in 1990. Maxine was a member of First Baptist Church, the church choir, Mission Possible Circle, Sunday School, and served on various church committees. She was also a member of Friends and Fun, the Sewing Club, Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel and KNEA, and volunteered at Hope House for many years. On July 17, 1949, Maxine was united in marriage with Merle B. Willhite at Burlingame, Kansas. He preceded her in death on September 8, 1995. Survivors include daughters, Patricia Coffey, and her husband, Shaun, Lawrence, Marcheta Pearson, and her husband, Richard, Olathe, Barbara Stransky, and her husband, Frank, Bonner Springs, and Jean Anne Leigh, and her husband, Tom, Kirkwood, Mo.; and grandchildren, Christopher Coffey, Patrick Coffey, Elisa Maxine Coffey, Dane Pearson, Mallory Faye Pearson, Russell Pearson, Tyler Stransky, Tanner Stransky, Tiffany Lynn Stransky, Tucker Stransky, Nathan Leigh, Caleb Leigh and Desmond Leigh. She also was preceded in death by a sister, Evelyn Joy Denny. SERVICES: Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church in Ottawa at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2007. IN STATE: Mrs Willhite was cremated. The family will meet with friends from 7 to 8:00 Monday evening at First Baptist Church. CEMETERY: Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to First Baptist Church, Hope House, or Ottawa University, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.