Maxiene Healy-Erath, 95, of Culver, passed away at 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 … absent from the body and present with the Lord and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Maxiene Barbara began life Feb. 7, 1920, in Ann Arbor, Ind., the daughter of St. Clair and Marjorie (Snow) Pardee. After her father graduated from the University of Michigan, the family moved to Detroit, where Maxiene spend most of her young life. In November 1928, her brother Clair Douglas was born.
Later the family moved to St. Johns, Mich., where Maxiene graduated from high school at age 16.
Maxiene earned a BS in Elementary Education from Central Michigan University at Mount Pleasant, graduating in 1941. She loved college, recalling and sharing fond memories of friends and their activities. Her long history of teaching third grade began in Remus, Mich. Maxiene also taught in Lansing.
While with a group of young women who entertained the GI’s at NCO clubs popular during WWII, Maxiene met Robert E. Healy at Fort Custer near Battle Creek, Mich. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married Oct. 12, 1946, and moved to Fort Wayne, home of Bob’s mother.
On July 21, 1947, Bob and Maxiene celebrated the birth of twin daughters, Sherri Anne and Merri Lynne. After a move to Bremen, a son Rand Erin was born Feb. 15, 1950, joyously completing their family.
Maxiene loved sewing for the twins and dressed them alike for years. She used an assortment of fabrics, colors, and patterns with added trimmings of rickrack, lace, ribbon, embroidery and appliqués. Many photographs elicit cherished memories of those darling dresses. Maxiene also sewed the girls’ baby doll clothes and bedding applying the same details.
Plymouth became their home in 1952. They were among the starter National homes in a subdivision called Woody’s Addition. It’s here they raised their family. Maxiene shared stories, exchanged ideas and information while a member of the Mothers of Twins Club. When the girls joined Bluebirds, Maxiene
later served as their Campfire leader for two years.
Maxiene resumed her teaching career when her children were in school full-time. During this time she earned an MS in Education from Ball State at Muncie. Spanning 21 years of teaching third grade in Plymouth, schools included “old” Washington, “new” Washington and Jefferson. After retiring, Maxiene accepted and enjoyed the challenge as a teacher at Lakewood Nursery School.
A job opportunity at Culver Auto Supply and Bob’s love of fishing prompted Bob and Maxiene to sell their home in Plymouth and move to Culver in 1978. After settling in, Maxiene resumed her nursery school teaching, this time in Argos. Later she became a volunteer counselor/chaperone at the Student Center at CMA. She received several letters of appreciation from the staff which more than ‘paid’ for her time.
In May 1986, Bob Healy passed away.
On Easter Sunday 1988 Maxiene joined the Emmanuel UM Church in Culver. An active member, she not only served in leadership, but used her gift of music to joyfully and faithfully play the piano for 13 years. Maxiene always loved walking, starting as a child in Detroit. Throughout the years, she logged many foot miles often gathering heart-shaped stones for her collection.
It was on one of these walks in Culver, she met Robert Erath. In 1989 they were married in the Emmanuel UM Church. Bob passed away in 1992.
Looking to fill her time and because spinal stenosis and osteoporosis had severely limited her long distance walking ability, Maxiene started drawing seriously. As an architect’s daughter and sister, she found this talent just came naturally. Using colored pencils, crayons, and markers, Maxiene began filling sketch books with folk art-style drawings. She now has 100’s of books filled not only with drawings, but articles of special interest to her, collages, words of wisdom and outpourings of her heart. Each page is a surprise and truly a treasure. It is this legacy Maxiene has unwittingly left for her family in remembrance of her.
Maxiene was an avid sports fan and shared this interest with her son Rand who lived nearby. She especially loved Notre Dame football, was a fan of the LA Lakers and coach Phil Jackson and enjoyed watching Tiger Woods play golf. Maxiene saved the sports schedule cut from the newspaper and planned her day accordingly, watching the games on TV or listening to them on the radio.
Another of her favorite “savings” were newspaper articles and or pictures she thought would be of particular interest to her children, These were placed in separate small piles on the DR table until they were viewed, commented on, saved by them or tossed. She also created ‘To Do’ lists for her children,
especially when she was aware of an advance visit. Their name would be written on the top. Some were simple tasks, others required elaborate explanation. It was important to cross out each item as it was accomplished. Maxiene was usually amazed how quickly the agenda was completed.
After a fractured hip in 2007 and advanced spinal stenosis further limited her mobility, Maxiene depended on a walker. Her son helped with shopping and running errands, her daughters with the housekeeping and personal care, allowing Maxiene to live in her home relatively independently. She had the assurance her family was only a phone call away.
Maxiene is survived by her brother C. Douglas (Taeko) Pardee of Saginaw, Mich, twin daughters Sherri Healy of South Bend and Merri Bottorff of Warsaw; her son Rand Healy of Burr Oak; five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A tribute service will be held at the Odom Funeral Home, Culver, at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. Interment will be in Culver Masonic Cemetery.
Memorials may be given in Maxiene’s memory to the Culver Community Schools Music or Art departments.