Maxine was born to Sidney and Byrde O’Dell in Enid, Oklahoma on June 9, 1926.
Grandma, Mama, there are so many things she will be remembered for. She took pride in her cooking and was a great seamstress. She cooked all the time, including an occasion when her son, Gaylon, was on leave from the Air Force one weekend. She was so focused on making his favorite meal that without thinking, she used her finger to test the mashed potatoes she was whipping up and caught them in the mixer, breaking them. This event definitely made the weekend one to always remember. Grandma sewed constantly for her granddaughters as they were growing up. She always had a new pattern and fabric to experiment with. Sometimes the end result was great, but as the girls got older they were a little confused by Grandma’s fabric choices, but loved her too much to say anything. Maxine and her late husband, Oania, volunteered at their church for years until their health would no longer allow, assembling and delivering mobile meals to shut-ins.
After Maxine and Oania retired, they were both fortunate to have the ability to travel all over the US and Canada whenever they got stir-crazy at home. This was accomplished with a single cab truck and camper with jeep in tow. Imagine driving to Alaska twice and traveling to Canada like this. They loved it!
Maxine will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. However, it is only for ourselves we grieve, not for her. Like 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 states, we do not grieve like those with no hope. She is in Heaven with Jesus. Because Maxine made the choice to accept Jesus as her Savior many years ago, she is spending eternity in Heaven, worshipping and praising God.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Oania Bass; daughter, Trena Swafford; brother, Gordon O’Dell; granddaughter, Stephanie Swafford; parents, Sidney and Byrde O'Dell.
She is survived by her son, Gaylon and wife, Dianne; granddaughter, Loni and husband, John; granddaughter, Angela and husband, Robert; granddaughter, Sarah and husband, Mike; grandson, Jeremiah and wife, Stephanie; grandson, Chad Swafford; great grandchildren, John Taylor, Jessie, Wyatt, Molly; and her honorary grandson that cared for her like she was his own grandmother while at Arbor House, Daniel Gonzales.
