Maxine B. Botts

Visitation

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

After 5:00 PM

Ohde Funeral Home, Bayard

Funeral Service

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

10:30 AM

Church of Christ

Bayard, Iowa

Officiating

Pastor Bob Rogers

Music

In The Garden?

 Beyond The Sunset?

Alice Drake, Vocalist

 Jesus Loves Me?

Congregation

Alice Drake, Accompanist

Casket Bearers

Tom Moore          Lonnie Bench

Nyle Hay          Alfred Wessling

William Cornish          Tim Hilgenberg

Interment

Highland Township Cemetery

South of Bayard, Iowa

Memorials may be made to the Church of Christ

or the American Legion Auxiliary in Bayard.

   Maxine Bernice, daughter of Thomas Wayde Freesh and Martha Ellen Ella? (Pulver) Freesh, was born November 4, 1913, on a farm near Bayard in Guthrie County, Iowa. Maxine attended rural school near her home as a young girl. She graduated from Bayard High School in 1932. She stayed at home and helped on the farm for a short time. On November 9, 1934, Maxine was united in marriage with Frank Marris Botts at the ministers parsonage in Spencer, Iowa. They returned home the next day, both going to their own family as they had no place else to live. The word of their marriage did not stay a secret for long. The next spring they moved to a farm place north of Guthrie Center. During World War II, Maxine was able to stay with Frank during some of his military training. In South Carolina she worked part time as a store clerk and waitress. The Southern ladies refused to let her serve them because she was a Northerner. Her boss gave her some useful advice.?Just say yall and theyll let you serve them.? Maxine adopted his idea and her Yankee background wasnt a problem again.

   After the war, they returned to Guthrie County. She worked at Ben Franklin Stores in Guthrie Center and Audubon. In 1947 they purchased their first insurance agency in Bayard. They worked together, eventually acquiring another agency. Maxine worked in the office as Frank was often gone because he was a rural mail carrier.

   Maxine was a loyal and active member of the Church of Christ in Bayard. She was also active in the American Legion Auxiliary, serving as county president for four years and membership chair. She was known as Bayards Poppy Lady?, raising money for veterans for many years.

   After they retired Maxine and Frank remained in Bayard for a number of years and in 2004 moved to independent living apartments at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry. Maxine suffered some health problems late in 2006 and in January of 2007 entered the Rowley Nursing Facility in Perry. She endured many painful months before her death there on Sunday, November 9, 2008, at the age of 95 years and 5 days.

   Preceding Maxine in death are her parents and sister Beulah Reinhart.

   She is survived by her husband Frank Botts of Perry; two nieces Elaine and husband Don Peebles of Clearmont, FL and Jeanette and husband Chet Sargent of Scranton; two nephews Keith Reinhart and wife Ruby of Scranton and Leslie Reinhart of Scranton; cousins, other relatives and friends.