Obituary of Margaret Mae Maxey

 Margaret Mae Southerland Maxey of Morning View, KY, age 96, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, in the comfort of her own home and surrounded by her loving family members. She was born in Parksville, KY on April 24, 1927, to the late Mary Etta (Rayborn) and Edgar Lewis Southerland.  

Margaret married the love of her life, Lee Roy Maxey on April 5, 1944, in Danville, KY. Sadly, he passed in 1972, but her love for him only grew throughout the course of her remaining years and though he only met his eldest grandchild prior to his death, Margaret made sure his memory lived on through the stories she passed along to her children and grandchildren. Margaret loved her family fiercely and after attending a one-room school as a child, it was her mission to ensure her children received a proper education and inherited her solid work ethic. As the matriarch of the Maxey family, Margaret fought for her family at every turn – through illness, hardships and three wars, she never faltered, leading by example, with a strong will and determination in the face of adversity.  A child of the Great Depression, Margaret knew the value of a dollar and found a purpose for everything - reusing and recycling items wherever she could. Margaret’s hobbies included collecting teapots and antiques, and crocheting and quilting, often gifting these handmade treasures to friends and family.  She loved the land and was incredibly proud of the family farm and enjoyed working alongside her sons tending cattle and crops, where you’d find her sitting in a hay or corn field crocheting a doily in her ATV while supervising the farm operations.

As a caregiver, the kids and grandkids knew who was boss and though she might threaten to “cut a switch” if one misbehaved, she never had to. She was a loving and compassionate soul who always put her family’s needs ahead of her own. After raising her own children, she helped raise her grandchildren and great-grandchildren teaching them how to read and write, clean house, garden and crochet. And, every year at Christmas, she would gift each of her grandchildren a brand new coat so they would be warm through winter. Though she never flew on an airplane, she loved traveling across the USA during summer vacation - visiting nearly every state with her family in tow.

Margaret was a beautiful, intelligent and talented southern lady who carried herself with dignity and grace. Her loyalty and patriotism for America began at an early age, going to work during WWII in factories making uniforms and polishing bombsights in an airplane factory in Cincinnati. She had an incomparable code of ethics and faith in God; baptized in the river as a young girl through  Maxey Valley Church of God in Needmore, KY.

A walking encyclopedia about nature and growing things, she spent hours gardening and canning various vegetables. She was a whiz in the kitchen and made the best green beans, fried apples and giblet gravy! At family functions, she would make everyone’s favorite dish and you couldn’t visit her without her offering you something to eat or a can of Coke, which was her favorite.

Family members who will carry on her legacy are her five devoted children: Larry (Linda) Maxey, Lee (Cecelia) Maxey, Violette (James) Fausz, John Maxey, and Mary Etta Patton; her eight beloved grandchildren: Lori (Mike) Collins, Rachel (Jimmy) Wolfe, Amy Margaret Maxey, Amanda (Bryan) Avance, Patrick (Annette) Maxey, James (Rachel) Fausz, Jonathan (Laura) Fausz, Kimberly Patton; 13 cherished great-grandchildren: Kayla Messer, Sabrina Collins (Ryan) Childers, Shelby (Corey) Dunaway, Morgan Keller, Cole Collins, Paityn Keller, Austin Collins, Amelia Margaret Fausz, Sarah Fausz, Alison Fausz, Brooklynn Hais, Nicholas Fausz, Isabella Hais; two precious great-great grandchildren: Kaiden Harral, Reed Emery Dunaway; dear sister Patricia Sue McCowen; treasured sister-in-law Effie Southerland; numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.  Margaret was preceded in death by her sisters Dolly Simpson and Mabel Carey and brother Eugene Southerland.

A visitation will be held on Monday, December 11, 2023, from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, 11382 Madison Pike Independence, KY 41051. The service will begin at 1:00 PM. Immediately following the service, Margaret will be laid to rest next to her husband at Wilmington Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made in her name to Wilmington Baptist Church, 15472 Madison Pike, DeMossville, KY 41033.