Maxine Mcclelland

Maxine McClelland passed away Wednesday evening, May 28, 2014, at the Sheridan County Health Complex in Hoxie at the age of 91. She was born on the family farm south of Tasco to Bert C. and Nellie Mae (Richards) Shafer. She attended Highland Rural Grade School and graduated from Hoxie High School with the class of 1940. She attended Business College in Dodge City. She was united in marriage to Thomas Francis McClelland on September 14, 1941 at the Red Line Mt. Pleasant Church Parsonage. They were blessed with three children Thomas Max, Patricia Louise, and James Albert. They spent almost 70 loving years of marriage together before Tom’s passing in 2010. They were true partners in life whether working on the farm or waltzing across the dance floor to big band music! One of their greatest joys was working to establish and maintain their beautiful farmstead northwest of Tasco. Maxine LOVED this country paradise! They loved entertaining and had MANY card and croquet parties. They were members of a bowling team and the “Half-Fast Dance Club” of Hill City. They were 4-H community and project leaders. A hard-working woman of many interests, she was never idle for long. She enjoyed bird watching (especially cardinals and finches!), gardening, her beautiful flowers, canning, and making jams, jellies, and cookies. She was an excellent pie and “twisty roll” baker. Music played a significant role in Maxine’s life from childhood on. She was a faithful member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Hoxie, serving as the church secretary for many years. Everything from poetry to trivia games, bowling to Pinochle, nature to genealogy, Maxine did it all with a great sense of humor, and a good joke or song thrown in for fun. Maxine credited her longevity to “clean living.” She was the perfect portrayal of the words, “ wife, mother, grandma, friend.” She was always a lady. Maxine was a woman of strong heart, mind, and faith, who lived life with love, passion, and humor. Survivors include her sons, Thomas Max McClelland and wife Marcy of Hays and James McClelland of Munjor; daughter, Patricia Berg of Collyer; sister, Mary Heckendorn of Lakewood, CO; grandchildren Janelle and husband Joe Dockendorf, Myrna Kober, Lorrie Mowry and husband Daren, Danny Berg and wife Marsha, Tricia Lynch and husband Darrin, Debbie Cagle, and David McClelland; twelve great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Homer McClelland of Vista, CA; sisters-in-law Phyllis McClelland of Grand Junction, CO and Betty Brewster of Hoxie. Preceding Maxine in death are her parents Bert and Nellie Shafer; husband Tom; grandson James McClelland, II; great-grandchildren Allyson Berg and Michael Giron; son-in-law LaVerne Berg; brothers, Morris, Charlie, and Howard Shafer; sisters Mable Denison, infant Edith Shafer, Hazel Walden, and Ruth Anderson. Maxine taught us how to truly love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love one another more than ourselves. Her legacy of laughter, life, and love will be carried on for generations to come. Reception: First Presbyterian Church