Maxine Edna Mann

Maxine Edna (Graves) Mann was born on her family’s farm in Indian Creek Township on Valentine’s Day in 1931. She was a sixth generation Monroe County resident and the youngest of five children born to D. Earl and Lydia (Crum) Graves. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and former husband, Robert C. Mann. She cherished her brothers - Earl E., Elbert D., and Glen A. Graves, and sister, Mary Esther (Sumner). She is survived by son Brad Mann, Bloomington, and daughters, Marla Anne (FL), Leah Lynn with husband Dan (OR), and her four grandchildren Matthew, Rachel, Nathan, and Hannah. She is survived by three of her fifty (!) first cousins: Dorothy Gill of Solsberry, Marion Keith Crum of Franklin, and Eric Graves of Mesa (AZ). Maxine passed away peacefully in her own home on April 27, 2020, “surrounded” (physically and virtually) by her children. She was privately interred on May 4, 2020 in the Carmichael Cemetery, where many of her relatives have been laid to rest. Maxine knew much about her extended family, in-laws, nieces, nephews and their families until Alzheimer’s took its toll. Her family is thankful she still largely knew them and that she was dearly loved. She is, and will continue to be, missed by those who knew and loved her. She was raised in a loving, humorous, hard working family that greatly valued education. After learning to read at an early age, she quickly found it was her favorite thing to do, and it became a lifetime passion. She was honored to have been selected to Hoosier Girls State where she was immersed in learning the process of government. Maxine graduated Salutatorian from Bloomington High School in 1949. Her studies continued at Indiana University where she earned a Master of Arts in Education and later a Master of Library Science. She then enjoyed a rewarding career as an elementary school librarian at various schools in the Monroe County Community School Corporation. She volunteered to serve in a library on a Navajo reservation in Arizona one summer and cherished that time the rest of her life. She retired in 1997 after successfully defeating cancer. In retirement, Maxine continued working various roles in local, state, and federal elections and always felt it was her civic duty to do so. Maxine enjoyed socializing in the Bloomington community she called home. Her entire life, she rarely met a stranger. She greeted those she encountered with a warm smile and friendly conversation. Whatever joy or sorrow a person had, she took it to heart – rejoicing or grieving with them. She could often be spotted relaxing with her local newspaper in the restaurants she chose to patronize or at American Legion Post 18 where she had been an Auxiliary member since shortly after the Civil War. She looked forward to laughing with her friends at weekly meetings of her Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) group. After meeting her weight goal she continued attending for love of the people there. Her greatest enjoyment came from her lifelong attendance of Primitive Baptist Churches. She chose to be baptized and join Union Church of Primitive Baptists in 1950. She enjoyed the preaching and fellowship of that denomination where her voice was always welcomed in the a cappella singing. Though she was anxious on planes, she loved travel. If she couldn’t drive, she flew. The chance to be with family was rarely missed. Particularly cherished were European trips with her sister, brothers and their spouses. Several trips she enjoyed the company of her dear friend Gladys Blair (TN). In addition to travel, Maxine loved animals. She wished no harm to any of God’s creatures other than bugs. A lifelong admirer of cardinals, she was probably responsible for the overweight cardinal population near her home. She was also particularly fond of her Schnauzers, Lady and Rambo, and cherished the many family pets and Grand Pups through the years. A Covid delayed celebration of life will be held from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Deremiah –Frye Mortuary, 700 W. Gourley Pike in Bloomington. Her family will be available for conversation 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. A memorial celebration with service begins at 3:00 p.m. Friends and family of Maxine are welcome to attend any portion or all. Afterwards, the rooms will remain open until 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests friends make a donation to a charity of their choice.