Gladys McClure Maxey

Gladys McClure Maxey of Ocean Springs passed away on Jan. 1, 2015 at her granddaughter’s home in Boonville, IN. at the age of 88. She was born in Ackerman, Ms. on Dec. 24, 1927. She attended Jackson School of Law where she received her law degree and met her husband, George D. Maxey. After graduation they moved to Ellisville, MS, where she worked at Masonite in Laurel as an executive secretary to Frank Lesniack, Masonite president, in order to support her family while her husband began his law practice. Soon after the birth of her son, Ronny, she left Masonite to become a full time mother and housewife when they moved to Laurel in 1955. She was active in numerous groups including bridge and garden clubs and was an area supervisor for the 1960 US Census. She continued her education at JCJC taking courses in education as well as tutoring many aspiring law students including Judge Billy Joe Landrum. Following the death of her husband in 1977 she relocated to Biloxi before making Gulf Oakes Condos in Ocean Springs her final home. She was active in the Gulf Oaks Condo association holding various positions including President and Board of Directors. While there she met Col. Bob Gray, USMC, Ret. who introduced her to golf. She embraced the game joining the Gulf Hills Ladies Golf Association where she held various offices and played until Bob’s death and her health forced her to give up the game. Following Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed her condo, she lived initially at the Gulf Hills Hotel where she made many new friends who she referred to as her fellow Katrina refugees. Once construction was completed, she returned to her beloved condo where she would sit in the swing and watch the sun set daily over the Gulf and enjoy her Gulf Oaks family. Last year in late November, after driving home from church, she fell and broke her hip while picking up a limb in her yard. Shortly thereafter she relocated to her granddaughter’s home, only for a short time according to her, to rehab her hip. While in Indiana her health began to steadily decline. She lived in the pool side guest house where her granddaughter could provide her with proper care including around the clock CNAs who constantly doted on her and became her extended family. She was surrounded daily by her loving granddaughter, great grandchildren, and great great grandson. She was preceded in death by her husband, George D. Maxey, her brother Thompson McClure, her mother, Marvel McClure, special friend Bob Gray. She is survived by her son Ron, Ellisville, Ms., her granddaughter Debbie (Brady) Bieber, grandson Jacob, granddaughter Reagon, and great great grandson Reed, all of Boonville, IN. She will be sadly missed by family and friends who will forever remember her for her spunky and tell it like it is attitude. She touched many lives throughout her life and all were better for having known her. Per her request, there will be a brief graveside service at Calhoun Cemetery on Sunday, Jan. 4th at 2 PM. Arrangements by Memory Chapel, Laurel, MS. To view and sign the family guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Gladys McClure Maxey

December 24, 1927 - January 1, 2015