Maureen Dee Souers

Maureen passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, September 20, 2024, at the age of 84. Born in Centralia, Illinois on November 12, 1939, she was the daughter of Maurice "Budd" Nix and Ola Vee Stucke.

Maureen grew up in Benton, Illinois and attended Benton Consolidated High School and graduated with the class of 1957. As a lifelong learner, Maureen also took college courses at SIU-E. She worked throughout her life including for Elgin State Mental Hospital as an aide and Famous-Barr as a sales associate. In her later years, she ran the after-school care program at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Known for always going out of her way for others, Maureen was a loyal friend and a loving and attentive mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt. She dedicated her life to caring for her family and especially loved to cook for them. Maureen was a proud liberal and devoted Chicago Cubs fan. She had a passion for music and was also an avid reader, particularly drawn to the beauty of poetry. Her other interests included cooking, baking, and finding the perfect gift for family and friends—it brought much joy to her life to buy for others. Maureen will be fondly remembered for her humor, generosity, and caring nature.

She is survived by her daughters: Jacqueline Souers of O’Fallon, Megan Brown and her partner Scott Becker of Belleville, and Layla Dozier and her husband Nick of St. Louis; grandchildren: Justin Ramsey, Forrest Brown, Lauren Greenley and her husband Joel, and Ava Dozier; great-grandchildren: Leila Sparato and Jordan Greenley; niece: Rebecca Nix and her husband Frank Colacicco of Naperville; sister: Karen Galbraith of Du Quoin; as well as several close friends and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughters: Erin Souers and Karin Souers of Collinsville; friends: Joyce Harmon and her husband Mark of Chicago and Marilyn Sue Vaughn of Benton; twin sister: Melinda Nix of Collinsville; brother: Rick Nix and his wife Mary Kay of Benton; and her beloved cat Madison.

A memorial service will be held on November 12, 2024, at 4 p.m. at Lake View Funeral Home in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Maureen’s memory be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®.