Valerie Maynard

Mass of the Christian Burial for Valerie Maynard, 85, of Lufkin will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2014 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, with Fr. Francis O’Dowd, Fr. Raymundo Garcia, and Deacon Jesus Reyes officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches.

Mrs. Maynard was born January 16, 1929 in Mauriceville, Texas, the daughter of the late Velma (Grubbs) and Layton L. Strickland. She passed away Thursday, June 19, 2014 in a local hospital.

Mrs. Maynard, a Master’s Graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University, was a retired educator and principal for Parochial Schools and Religious Education. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother as well as an artist, gourmet cook, avid reader, excellent seamstress, and character renown. She was very active in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and School. She and her husband Dennis were founding members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Diboll.

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Richard Maynard and Amelia Williams of Taos, New Mexico, William and Rosalinda Maynard of Garland and Stephen and Jeanette Maynard of Hudson; daughter, Barbara Maynard of Lufkin; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and David Newman of Pinehurst, Texas; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; very special friends, Betsy and Jack O’Connor of Lufkin; and a number of nieces, nephews, and other family members.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Maynard was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Maynard; sister, Janey Graham and her husband Jack.

Family members will serve as pallbearers for Mrs. Maynard.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.