Maxine Duke

Maxine Duke went home to be with the Lord on April 22nd, 2019 at the age of 74. She was born on August 29th, 1944 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Sim and Ruth Cole. She was an amazing and beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.
Maxine lived in many places, like Nebraska, California, Oklahoma, and Kansas. She met her husband, Bill, in Palmdale, California in 1959 when she was 13 and he was 14; they married November 19th, 1961 at 2:30pm, at the ages of 17 &18. They both raised two daughters and one son: Teresa, Doreen, and Billy.
Maxine loved to crochet everyone blankets, scarves, and hats. Especially when there was a new grand baby, she always wanted to make them a blanket. She loved going fishing with her husband Bill and always had a story to tell when they would come back from their days by the water. When she wasn’t fishing or crocheting you could catch her outside taking pictures of birds, flowers, or just the family. She loved taking pictures! She loved spending time with family and always looked forward to the days she would get to see everyone she loved, especially at the family reunions every year. During the summer we could all find her outside gardening, swimming with the kids, or just sitting on the back deck enjoying her family. They loved watching the Royals games together! Maxine never left a person’s heart untouched and never had a unkind word to say about anyone…well maybe one or two. A very loving, caring, selfless woman, who gave her all and fought very hard. She loved with all her heart. Her sense of humor was one to remember.
Maxine went to Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California. She ran an in-home daycare and loved taking care of many family’s children in Claremore, Oklahoma. She worked at Lifetouch for many years in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Kansas City. She retired from EDC in Overland Park, KS and spent her many years with her loving and caring husband.
Maxine is survived by her husband of 57 years William B Duke(Bill) of Overland Park, Kansas, daughter Doreen(Dave) Bennett of Overland Park, Kansas, son William (Bonnie) Duke Jr of Inola, Oklahoma, brother Jimmy Cole of Claremore, Oklahoma, nine wonderful grandchildren: Dillon (Hayley) Bump of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cody (Emily) Bump of Loveland, Colorado, Heather (Matthew) Keaton of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Amber (Shawn) Collins of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Austin Bump of Overland Park, KS, Elizabeth Blevins of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Sarah (Bradley) Speer of Independence, Missouri, Joshua Duke of Inola, Oklahoma, Amanda Duke of Inola, Oklahoma, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great grandchildren and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sim and Ruth Cole of Portland, Oregon, her daughter, Teresa Blevins of Claremore, Oklahoma, and her two sisters, Kay Irvine of Buffalo, New York, and Diane Ferry of California. There will be a visitation in Merriam, Kansas on Thursday, April 25 from 6-8pm at Charter Funerals, 10250 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Merriam, KS 66203 and a visitation in Claremore, Oklahoma on Friday, April 26, at MMS-Payne Funeral Service from 5-8pm, 102 W 5th St, Claremore, OK 74017. A service will be held at the MMS-Payne Funeral home chapel on Saturday April 27, at 11am; burial will follow at the cemetery in Claremore, Oklahoma. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Maxine’s life!