Maxine Whitten Chatmas

Maxine Whitten Chatmas, 97, who lived a life of exemplary devotion to her husband, daughter, two sons, six grandchildren, and two great granddaughters, passed on to Heaven peacefully in her sleep on March 23, 2014. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery on Friday, March 28, at 10:00 AM. Rev. David Thomas will conduct graveside services.

Maxine loved and cherished her family through anxieties and triumphs, and unfailingly retained her beauty, charm, elegance, and lady-like dignity. She worked relentlessly when work was required.

Born in Grandview, Texas, on April 11, 1916, Maxine was the youngest of three children of Robert Euclett Whitten and Adeline Prestridge Whitten. After attending local schools and earning her teacher's degree from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, she married J.C. Chatmas, Jr., on August 28, 1941. They spent the first five years of their marriage at various air bases in the U.S. during World War II, when her husband was serving as an Air Force pilot. They lived in Marlin since 1946, the end of that war.

Following graduation from college in 1937, she taught school in Marlin from 1938 to 1941 and again from 1955 to 1957 when she was the Elementary School Librarian. Maxine was active in the various activities of the Marlin ISD, several social clubs, and perennial President of "The Not-So-Great Book Club." She was a member of Marlin's First Presbyterian Church, where she cheerfully volunteered her services. Her decorative talents were best expressed in her home, as well as The Parlor and The Assembly Room of her church.

Maxine Chatmas considered her family her crowning achievement, and her life and love were devoted to them. She was a special and loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend who put faith, family, and friends first. She will be remembered by those who loved her for her loyalty, her friendship, and her hospitality.

While rearing her three children, she undertook many labors of love to foster their growth and welfare. The entrance hall walls in her home were graced with near life-size portraits of her three children, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, all taken at their same age of 18 months. The many mementos throughout the home reflected the true love for her family who lovingly called her "Mag".

The last decades of her life were devoted to creating a legacy for her children. Through the years, Mrs. Chatmas saved even the most insignificant mementos, drawings, letters, clippings, and pictures pertaining to all members of her family and their lives. She placed all of them in appropriately labeled scrapbooks for her family to enjoy.

Maxine Whitten Chatmas, now residing at peace in the Lord's Kingdom of Heaven, may not have made headlines in the newspaper that her husband once owned, but she made headlines in the hearts of her family and the friends she truly loved. She was preceded in death by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Whitten, her brother, E.G.Whitten, Grandview, and sister, Mrs. Hugh (Bobbie) Buck, Houston. Maxine Whitten Chatmas was also preceded in death by her husband, JC, of 66 years and her daughter, Connie Chatmas McLelland. She is survived by her sons Dr. Robert W. Chatmas of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and Dr. Jay C. Chatmas III and his wife, Carmen, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; six grandchildren: Rich and his wife Melanie of Waco; Robin and her husband Joesph Ortiz, Chase, James, Lauren, and Evan; two great granddaughters, Chloe and Leighton; her son-in-law Bill McLelland; one sister-in-law, Evangeline Gilley and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 411 Oakes St., Marlin, Texas or to the Lott Presbyterian Church.