Cemetery Photo

Maxine, the fourth of nine siblings slipped off to heaven at 5:35 a.m. on the 25th (October 25, 2010) at Memorial Hospital to take part in her family’s grand reunion. Recovered from a broken hip in late July, she had been living at the Stilwell Nursing Home where she regaled the staff with stories of her life and made sweet witty comments.
On Saturday, October 30,2010, graveside services will be in the Stilwell Cemetery at 10 a.m., followed by a “celebration of life” at 11 a.m. at the Roberts Funeral Home chapel on Hwy. 100 west.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to S.P.L.F.S., care of The Stilwell Public Library, 5 N. 6th Street, Stilwell, OK 74960 (Donations go to the building fund for the Children’s Wing of the library.)

Although born at home in Mountainburg, Arkansas,(January 31, 1912 ), Maxine was schooled in Oklahoma, attending Adair County’s Horn School in the early 1920s and was a 1930 Stilwell High School graduate who dreamed big; enjoyed her family and friends; loved reading and was the master of letter writing - everyone benefiting from her skill. In later years when she could not write, her recitations of personal and family history were a blessing. Her words to you even now are: keep a diary and get specialized training in your career choice.

While working in Tulsa in the 1930s, Maxine married Charles Johnson Curtis on Christmas Eve in 1936 at the home of Julia and Wilburn Hoffman in Melissa, Texas. Together for nine months and separated for nine, she traveled halfway around the world by ship to meet her sweetheart making it the grandest adventure of her life. They lived in Bahrain while Charles helped build an oil refinery there. Returning home to Tulsa, her son Charles Gary Curtis was born there in 1941. Working for Texas Co. (Texaco), Charles moved the family to Beaumont, Texas where their daughter Donna Ruth Boecher was born. Upon Charles’ retirement and the death of Bertha Harris, they returned as full time residents in 1977 to the Zion family home. Married 65 years, widowhood in 2002 took her to her daughter’s home in River Ridge, Louisiana and Hurricane Katrina brought her back to Zion in 2006.

She was the last surviving child of Bertha Lee (Renfroe) Harris and Jacob Plumer “Dick” Harris who moved to Stilwell from Arkansas in late 1922. Dick purchased Coon Mountain from first cousin Jim Ross that winter and the family lived on the mountain until moving to Zion Community in 1928. All except two of her siblings lived at least the latter part of their lives in the Stilwell area. Paul Harris lived in Wauhillau; Julia Hoffman in Bertram,Texas; Atha Hoffman in Ennis, Texas; Eunice Starr in Zion; Renfro “Shorty” Harris in Ewing Chapel; Jimmy Harris in Bunch; Sunbeam Harris (died in childhood ) in Zion; and Tommie Ruth Strauss in Horn.

She is survived by her children and their descendents: Charles Gary Curtis of Alvin, Texas; Donna Ruth Boecher and husband Edward – both of Zion; and Charles’ daughter, Peggy Nichols and husband Jack of Ozark, MO. The grandchildren and their families are as follows: Robin Kellogg, husband Paul, children Elyssa and Nicholas (Houston, TX); Stephani Bradley, husband Dennis, children Kate and Johnathan (Lake Jackson, TX); April Dickson and children Rachel and Curtis (Houston); Jennifer Boecher (LA, CA); and Charles Boecher , wife Delena, children Mikaela, Brock, Charles Douglas, and step-daughter Maggie (DeRidder, LA). Living in Ozark, MO are: Curtis Nichols; Cathy Nichols and daughter Tara; Douglas Nichols, wife Karen and son Matthew and his wife Sarah. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends; many in Stilwell and others in surrounding states.