Maxine Graham

Maxine Graham passed away at the age of 92 years, 10 months and five days on October 5, 2018, at home. Her children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren had recently visited to share their love. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 10, at Central Christian Church, Waco. Maxine June Waddell was born December 29, 1925, in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, to Laura Williams Waddell and Luther Moses Waddell. She graduated from Carlisle High School in Northeast Texas and attended Kilgore College in Kilgore. She was a phlebotomist during World War II and worked for Western Union in one of her first jobs. She later worked for Gulf Oil in Midland and shared a refurbished barrack at the Midland-Odessa Terminal with her double first cousin, Norman Waddell, right after the war. On December 21, 1948, she married the love of her life, Billy Franklin Graham, in Odessa. They raised their four children in Odessa, and Maxine worked many years for Cooper Construction. Later they moved to Cleburne to take care of Bill’s parents and five years later moved to Burleson after the elder Grahams’ deaths. Maxine worked for Cadenhead-Rangaire Construction as office manager and later for CBC Masonry as office manager. She continued to work in business until she was 80 years old. Maxine is remembered for many wonderful attributes. Her four children love her for the mother extraordinaire she was and hold her in high esteem. She instilled in her children a belief that they should contribute to their world. She was also a teacher. She taught Sunday School for over 50 years, culminating in leading the older women’s class at Cana Baptist Church in Burleson after her husband died. She had many dear friends in the class who studied, lunched, and prayed together. She was an excellent cook who shared her creations with family and friends. For years she made the groom’s cakes for all manner of relatives, from grandsons to in-laws, and friends. She sometimes baked three cakes a week. She loved to design clothes, quilts, and upholstered furniture. She also found great joy taking road trips across the United States, especially during the month of October. She was an avid reader and shared her books with many. She was a Master Gardener and worked to make her property a respite for family and friends. Most of all, Maxine Graham exemplified a life well-lived. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; son-in-law, Tom Slavik; and her sister, Gwen Honeycutt. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Deborah Graham of Carrollton, and Lee and Jennifer Graham of New Braunfels; a daughter, Gwynn Slavik of Waco; and a daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Craig Haterius of Fort Worth; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Adrian Graham, Joel Graham, Josh and Monica Graham, Jessica and Ken Hepburn, Matt and Lisa Burtch, Derrick and Jennifer Haterius, Alexander Czichos, Sven and Kristin Haterius, and Nils Haterius; 10 great-grandchildren, Katherine, Elizabeth, Natalie, Cole, Elise, Pippa, Adelaide, Beckham, Hudson and Hannah; nieces and nephews and spouses, Roxann, Laura and Jon, Larry and Janet, Keith and Leeann, Mariann, Todd and Brook, Jeanna and Scott. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Shiloh Baptist Church, 829 Shiloh Church Road, Crawford, TX 76638 or Bethel Lutheran Church, 10625 Farm to Market Road 600, Avoca, TX 79503. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.