Maxine Elswick Sanders, 91, passed away on March 12, 2015. She was born on July 4, 1923 in Wellington, Kansas, the second child of Ira and Ethel Elswick. Their family moved to south Texas in 1929 to a warmer climate for the health of their oldest child. Maxine attended Santa Rosa High School where she was on the basketball team and was selected as a guard on the "All Valley" team. She also played alto saxophone in the band. Maxine met her husband, James M. Sanders, at a USO dance in Brownsville, Texas, and they were married on October 11, 1942. They continued dancing during their 51-year marriage. Their two oldest children were born in Harlingen, Texas and then they moved to Chandler, Arizona in 1953 and added two more children to their family. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her sister, Eileen. She is survived by her four children, James (Robin) Sanders, Janet (John) Summers, John (Jennine) Sanders and Joanne Noble. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one on the way. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Organization.
