Maxine Jones

Maxine S. Jones, 90 years old, died Friday, November 1, 2013 at the home of her daughter, Cathy, in Yorkville, Illinois. Her strong love of life, adventurous spirit, un-waivering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family and friends and so many whose lives she touched helped her endure and write the final chapter of a beautiful life story.

Maxine was born on October 11, 1923 in Blytheville, Arkansas to Daniel and Leamon Smith. The middle of three daughters- Bonna Jeanne (deceased) and Marion, youngest sister. She grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, lived across the street from her husband to be, Orville (OD) and had many family members continue to reside in Memphis, she and OD considered Jacksonville, FL home.

Known for her ”Southern Belle” graciousness and many stories of her travels with the “Love of her life”, her husband Orville (deceased) and traveling cat, Shell, she left an impression on so many lives. Throughout her life she maintained a contagious smile and simple demeanor that won the trust and hearts of everyone she came in contact with. She changed the lives of many with her constant nurturing and belief in others to be the best at whatever you put your mind to.

Married for 60 years, Maxine and OD, traveled the world as a young Navy couple, hopping trains in Europe with a traveling trunk of their worldly goods, opening the base at Cecil Field in 1941, being stationed in Panama and seeing the Panama Canal being built, providing life skills for nephew, Gaylord Gene Crick (wife Lisa), chasing horses on Chincoteague Island with granddaughters, teaching grandsons to fish and swim, to retiring in Jacksonville, FL. They raised two wonderful daughters, Cathy Elaine Pettis (husband John) and Paula Arline Williams (husband Kenneth), instilled the since of adventure in the lives of four grand-children, Rebecca Michelle Dizon (husband Danilo), Stephanie Nicole DiVito (husband Anthony), Christopher Lee Williams (wife Tiffany), John Dennis Pettis (wife Ashley), she has five beautiful great-grandchildren, Isabell, Hailey, Devin, Samantha, and Brooke, all of whom she loved dearly and shared so many tender moments in time with.

With a real zest for life, and fear of missing out on an adventure, Maxine loved to square dance, calypso, waltz and swing dance, play games and cards- especially poker with Jolly Rancher candies and crazy rummy with her grand children with many a “Do Over”. She enjoyed chatting with friends and family, camping with the Getaway Sam’s Club, attending Garden Club in Jacksonville, making fig jelly and marmalade in the test kitchen, teaching English as a second language through Riverside Baptist Church, playing Bingo with her friends at the Senior Center in Oswego and Yorkville, IL, attending the annual reunion of the USS Ranger CV-4 (OD served on the ship during WWII) and traveling and more traveling…these were just a few of her many interests. A spirit to be reckoned with, a gypsy in life with a strong sense of independence, a heart of gold and a love of family, friends and the good lord, she will be missed by many.

The family will receive friends and family, Friday Nov. 8, from 4 to 8 PM at

Hardage- Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL .

The funeral service will be presided over by Rev. David Holliday at the Hardage- Giddens Rivermead Chapel in Orange Park on Saturday, November 9 at 11:00 AM. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren and granddaughters husbands, Anthony DiVito and Danilo Dizon. Maxine will be laid to rest beside her husband at Holly Hills Cemetery in Middleburg, FL.

The family is deeply grateful to those who helped take care of Maxine and request that Memorial donations be made to:

Harbor Light Hospice, 800 Roosevelt Rd, Bldg C, Suite 206, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, or Hospice of NE Florida who cared for OD prior to his passing in 2005.

Post tributes at www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com