Emma Maxine Coles Nixon

© Enid News and Eagle

05-2016

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

© Enid News and Eagle

Maxine Nixon, 93 year old Freedom resident, passed away to her Heavenly home on Monday, May 23, 2016, in Alva, surrounded by her family. The funeral service is 11 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2016, at the Freedom High School Auditorium, with the Rev. Scott Ware officiating. Burial will follow in the Freedom Cemetery. Visitation is 12-7 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 2016, at the Freedom United Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.

Emma Maxine (Coles) Nixon was born on Oct. 7, 1922, in Coldwater, Kan. She was the fifth child of Edgar Jackson and Frances Folsum (Carter) Coles.

Maxine grew up northwest of Freedom, near the Lookout area, and attended school at Centerview. She later attended Freedom schools and graduated from Freedom High School in 1940.

Maxine attended Northwestern State College for two years before moving to Salina, Kan., where she received her Teaching Certificate. She taught school at West Creek for a period of time while living with her Aunt Lizzie in Buttermilk, Kansas.

With the boys leaving for World War II, she answered the call of her country and joined the workforce, working for Watkins Supply in Wichita, Kan., in the Purchasing Department.

With the war behind them, Maxine found the love of her life in an old high school friend, upon his return stateside. After a two year courtship, she was united in marriage to Wesley Willis Nixon, at the home of Jim and JoAnna Powers (now the home of her granddaughter Ashley Ferguson), on Oct. 12, 1947. They made their home in Freedom and were blessed with four children, Kayle, Sue, Mark, and Julie.

Wes became the President of the Freedom State Bank in 1954, and shortly thereafter Maxine went to work at the bank alongside her husband. She was a meticulous bookkeeper and banker, and continued working at the bank until her retirement in the early 2000's. Maxine was a member of the Freedom United Methodist Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Eastern Star, the Cimarron Ladies Auxiliary, the Rodeo Queen Committee, the Freedom Sirloin Club and was an Honorary Chapter Farmer.

She was also a longtime member of the Freedom Booster Club. She was a pillar of her community and was proud of her instrumental role in the formation of the Freedom health clinic, which provided healthcare in Freedom for many years.

Her favorite pastime was watching sports, especially her beloved Atlanta Braves. Her favorite team of all was her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, and she traveled thousands of miles, across multiple states, to attend their ball games.

Maxine gave generously of her time and talents to many boards, foundations, clubs and to her church, the Freedom United Methodist Church, in which she was very active. She loved being with her family and was always taking care of her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by three daughters, Kayle Costello Northcutt and husband, Leonard; Sue Reed and husband, Randy; Julie Russell and husband, Tom; one son, Mark Nixon and wife, Peggy; grandchildren, Debbie Costello; Dallas Smith; Nicole Caddell and husband, Casey; Jerrod Reed and wife, Cindy; Ashley Ferguson and husband, Troy; Lisa Hughes and husband, Dwight; Lori Parks and husband, Bart; Corey Russell and wife, Jill; Jordan Russell and wife, Jessica; Lucas Russell and fiancee, Heather Moore; great-grandchildren, Hudson, Kennedy, and Jennings Caddell; Emma, Austin, and Arlee Reed; Chastin Eagan, Janea Twitchell, Evan and Channing Ferguson; Dalton, Jake, Paige, and Peyton Hughes; Sidney Parks; Jackson and Elsie Kate Russell; Nixon and Nolan Russell; two sisters, Betty Whittet; Ginny Reinke and husband, Karl; sister-in-law, Colleen Nixon; other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Wes Nixon on Aug. 23, 2013; a granddaughter, Lindsey Reed; son-in-law, Bob Costello; four brothers, Lester, Kendall, Jack, and Eldon Coles; one sister, Helena Burleson; and an infant brother, Glenn, who died from the influenza outbreak in 1928.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Freedom United Methodist Church, with the Billings Funeral Home, 1621 Downs Avenue, Woodward, Okla. 73801, accepting the contributions on behalf of the family.

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