Maxine Oldham

Lois Maxine Oldham, 91, of Fort Smith on October 19, 2012 heard the words from her Savior, “well done good and faithful servant, welcome home” from her earthly home in McKinney, TX. She was the youngest of five children, born August 24, 1921 in Charleston, AR. She was the last survivor of four brothers and one daughter born to Lee & Loretta Phillips Cone. Her family moved to Granite, OK when she was 6 years old. She attended school there until the 10th grade. Her family moved to Fort Smith and she attended Fort Smith High School and graduated in 1939. She then attended and graduated from Millie’s Beauty School. She met her husband, Herbert Oldham, and married on June 29, 1940. She was a committed Christian and loved her Lord and His church dearly. She was a member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church for over 60 years teaching Sunday School most of that time. She loved to study her Bible and share with her Sunday School Class how God wants us to live, love, and serve others. She was the utmost example of encouragement in her church. Whatever her pastor felt was best for the church she was faithful 100% and always ready to support and serve. She had a beautiful alto voice and sang in the church choir and in a ladies ensemble with dear friends, Gracia King, Dorothy Setliffe and Mary Palmer. She served on various committees and loved to help her friends decorate for church functions. She had a home beauty salon for 50 years and became dear friends of all of her patrons. When they became unable to drive she would go pick them up and take them to her house to fix their hair. She even arranged their hair for some after death. She was a gifted seamstress. She would stay up late after her family had gone to bed sewing dresses for her three daughters. She took great pride to make sure her girls always had new clothes to wear when school began each year. Later she designed and made their wedding gowns. As a way to make some extra money Maxine and her husband became owners of the Posey Floral Shop where she learned she had a natural talent for floral design. She loved to help friends with weddings, showers, and church decorations. She loved working in her yard and had a green thumb when it came to her flowers. Her neighbors always bragged about how beautiful her yard was. After her husband died in 1973 she did all the mowing, planting of flowers and growing a vegetable garden, which she loved to share with family and friends. She won the Orchid Award (yard of the month) in 1987 for her attractive lawn. After her husband’s death she wanted to find employment outside of her home and was employed by Sparks Regional Medical Center as director of housekeeping all the while continuing her profession of hairdresser on the side. It was at this time she joined the 4-H Club and became reacquainted with Eula Mae King, a friend of many years. It was not long after they started working together with the 4-H Club they decided they would like a new adventure and in 1976 she and Mrs. King became original owners of the Now and Then Shoppe. They had many happy times going to market together and growing the business until they sold it in 1983 to the current owners. It is still a very popular gift shop in Fort Smith. She was the utmost example of a Christian mother and wife. She loved her husband, children, and grandchildren unconditionally. She taught her family how to love, serve and forgive. She lived for the last year in McKinney, TX in a residential care home with dear, lovely ladies and her caregivers, Julia, Denise, Toni, Catherine, Katie, and Margie who treated her with love, dignity, and compassion. Our lives are richer for having her as an example and she will be greatly missed. But, she is waiting for us in heaven now where we will see her again someday. John 11:25 ..He who believes in Me, shall never die.” She is survived by three daughters, Barbara Liles of Fort Smith, Mary Phegley of McKinney, TX and Carole Lee of Fort Smith; eight grandchildren, Stephen Liles, Jennifer Klemple, Kathy Dodd, Lee Phegley, Scot Phegley, Brian Phegley, Ryan Lee, and Brent Lee; and fourteen great grandchildren. Funeral service will be Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 10:00 AM in the Grand Avenue Baptist Church with burial to follow in Liberty Cemetery in Greenwood, AR all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Ryan Lee, Brent Lee, Lee Phegley, Scot Phegley, Brian Phegley, and Steve Liles. The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Monday evening from 5-7 PM Memorials may be made to the Beyond Measure Building Fund of Grand Avenue Baptist Church 39th and Grand Avenue Fort Smith, AR 72904 or the Alzheimer’s Association of Western Arkansas 2408 South 51st Court Fort Smith, AR 72901 To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com