Maxine Thedford
January 14, 1917 ~ November 22, 2006
Thedford, Maxine, 89, homemaker, beloved aunt, and talented artist, died Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 4:50 A.M. Service, 1:00 P.M., Saturday, November 25, Downing Lahey Mortuary West. Graveside services will follow at 3:00 P.M., Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony, KS. Born January 14, 1917, Maxine was one of eleven children born to Lulu and Beecher Bettis in Sedan, Kansas. She was educated in Wichita and graduated from East High School before meeting her husband, John “Bud” Thedford. She lived throughout Texas, and in Tripoli, Libya and Tehran, Iran while her husband was employed by Atlantic Richfield. One of the few women to accompany their husbands to the Middle East oil fields in the late 60s and 70s, she was considered a pioneer. While there, she painted scenes representing regional cultures. Maxine returned to the Wichita area following her husbands death in 1979. Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews and many dear friends. A memorial has been established with the Kansas Humane Society, 4218 Southeast Blvd., Wichita, KS 67210; Presbyterian Manor, 4700 W. 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67212; and First United Methodist Church, 550 N. Park, Valley Center, KS 67147. Tributes may be sent to the family via www.downingandlahey.com
Graveside services, 3:00 P.M., Saturday, November 25, Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony, Kansas
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Maxine was good friends with my husband’s grandmother, Georgia Harris. They, along with Fern Seaman and Leona Hobaugh, played marbles every Sunday afternoon for years. We always enjoyed the stories Grandma Harris would share of her afternoons with ‘the girls’. We also attended church with her in Valley Center, and thought she was one of the sweetest and cutest ladies in her age group. When she would visit with us, she would always make us feel like we were very good friends, including us in her jokes and experiences. We are sure your family has wonderful memories of Maxine, she must have been an extraordinary aunt.
What a lovely lady! I was fortunate enough to work at the Methodist Church in Valley Center during the time Maxine lived there. She was always a ‘lady’. Always interested in what was happening in other people’s lives and so gracious to listen. She was kind enough to share some of her wonderful travel experiences with me and with others. She also was a great friend to my husband’s grandmother, Sylvia Wilbur, who also lived at Presbyterian Manor. We who knew Maxine were blessed – we are so grateful to have shared a small portion of her life.
I grew up down the block from Mrs. Thedford in Valley Center. I met her (and Princess the schnauzer) when I was about 10 and selling Girl Scout cookies. Somehow my Girl Scout cookie sales evolved into routine visits. She taught me to play Skip-Bo, showed me her paintings, told me about her travels, and let me pick out a seashell from the shells she’d brought home from the Persian Gulf. She was such a wonderful lady – always so friendly and always smiling. I’m thinking of and praying for all of you – we were all so lucky to know her. Erin Jamison