Maxine was born Dec. 9, 1922 in St. Louis, Mo. She says to tell everybody her age or else they try to guess and it's usually in the wrong direction. She is 77 this year.
She says she started painting because she was married to a Navy man and always had time on her hands when he was on tours of duty. She also moved a lot and has lost track of the number of times, but 27 years ago she made the big move to Hawaii when husband Curt was transferred to Pearl Harbor. 25 years ago Maxine and Curt built their house in Paradise Park, on the ocean, at the end of Makuu.
When Curt passed away in 1986, Maxine, always active, became even mone so. She is a volunteer worker at the hospital and is a member of Hilo Hospital Auxiliary and also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Fleet Reserve Assoc.. She has served on the Board of Paradise Park and also on the Road Committee. She works in the office of Pahoa Sacred Heart Church and the Food Bank. Nominated as Senior of the Year for 1993 and, if that isn't enough, to keep her out of trouble, she has five grandchildren.
Maxine's favorite painting subjects are seascapes, boats and churches which she paints in oil. She has been a member of the Seniors Art Group since it began in 1982. Her paintings will be on display in tne Hui Office This month.
When asked how she would describe her life, she said, in her modest way, "Oh, I just live a dull life with two dogs."