Maurine Faye Weaver

Born in Carrollton, Missouri, to Harlan and Frances (Sheller) Smith, Maurine grew up with an appreciation for beauty that would shape the course of her life. She graduated from Milford High School in 1957 before attending Manchester College, where she majored in Elementary Education and was actively involved in college theatre and summer stock productions. During freshman orientation, she met Ronald Weaver, whom she married on August 19, 1961, in Milford, Indiana. Though their path shifted over the years, they remained lifelong friends and dedicated parents, sharing a lasting bond of devotion to the family they created together.

In 1968, Ron and Maurine welcomed their daughter, Jennifer (Weaver) Neuser. When Ron accepted a position as a Professor of Art at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the family moved to Wisconsin in 1969, where Maurine flourished both personally and artistically. She served as a graduate assistant in the Department of Art's ceramics degree program and managed the University's student ceramics studio while continuing to develop her remarkable talents as an artist.

A gifted artist in every sense of the word, Maurine excelled in ceramics, sculpture, and painting. She had an extraordinary eye for beauty and found inspiration everywhere—especially in nature, design, and fashion. More than creating beautiful things, she taught those around her to notice and appreciate the art that exists all around us.

Maurine had a rare ability to truly know people. She was deeply interested in who they were beneath the surface, asking thoughtful questions and forming meaningful connections. Her quick wit, sharp sense of humor, unmistakable personal style, and contagious zest for life made her unforgettable.

Maurine was a constant, graceful presence in the lives of her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters. She celebrated life’s everyday moments, offered steady support, and played an integral role in helping Jennifer, serving as the true heart of the family's ballet academy, Ballet Rincon. Her love, encouragement, and example shaped generations of young dancers and family alike, leaving a light that will continue to shine for years to come.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Jennifer Neuser and her husband, John; her granddaughters, McKinley Vesce and her husband, Bryan, and Reed Cech and her husband, Conner; her sister, Shirley (Smith) Mishler and her husband, James; and her eagerly awaited first great-grandchild, Carter John Cech. She also leaves behind numerous loving nieces and nephews, and a wide circle of extended family and friends who will miss her dearly.

Maurine was preceded in death by her parents, Harlan and Frances (Sheller) Smith; and her siblings and their spouses, Pauline and Ralph Delk, Helen and Roy Hiteshew, Dorothy and James Mason, Dwight and Jan Smith, Lloyd and Joanna Smith, and Edward and Jean Smith.

Maurine’s legacy lives on through the beauty she created, the curiosity she inspired, and the love she gave so freely. She reminded those around her to look closely, appreciate the world, laugh often, and live with creativity, kindness, and wonder.

A private Celebration of Life will be held for immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to honor Maurine’s memory to consider making a memorial contribution to the University of Arizona Museum of Art, supporting a community of creativity and visual arts that she deeply cherished.

Below, please find the link for donations in Maurine’s name:

https://give.uafoundation.org/museum-art