Maxine M. Deckard

Her life was filled with love of family and friends, gratitude and grace.

She married John Paul Deckard on October 10, 1947 and shared over fifty years of marriage before his death in 1998. Together they had 4 daughters, Leslie Kimbrell of Lee’s Summit, MO, Susie Facklam of Columbia, MO, Gloria Deckard of Miami, FL and Sherry Perleth of Oak Grove, MO who preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her sister, Clarice, brother, Everett, and her grandson, Robert Henry Affolter IV. Her family is a growing legacy of love and joy with ten grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren, 2 sons-in-law, 2 nieces and 2 nephews.

Maxine displayed an intellectual curiosity early in life, winning awards and honors throughout her education. She graduated from Paola High School on May 26, 1940 and had continued to attend high school reunions and stay in touch with classmates throughout her life. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor she moved to Kansas City Kansas and attended welding school. She worked for 4 years at North American Aviation where she built B 25 Bombers. Maxine proudly became a Rosie the Riveter in recent years and participated in several events including two National Conventions at the Truman Library. Later in life she worked as a bookkeeper and retired from Fireside on the Plaza.

Maxine enjoyed her large family, gardening and then canning the bounty, traveling, especially with her husband to explore family tree connections, following the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals, her friends and experiences at the Vesper Hall Senior Center in Blue Springs.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Vesper Hall in her name, and to pass forward a kindness.

If you wish to contribute a memorial gift by check, please note the gift is in her memory and make the check to either:

1. THCF/City of Blue Springs Vesper Hall General Fund

2. THCF/City of Blue Springs Vesper Hall Nutrition and Homebound Fun

You may also make a gift online. Below is the URL for each of the Funds:

https://www.thcf.org/Your-Giving/Give-Now?fn=City+of+Blue+Springs+Vesper+Hall+General+Fund

https://www.thcf.org/Your-Giving/Give-Now?fn=City+of+Blue+Springs+Vesper+Hall+Nutrition+and+Homebound+Fund