Maxine Jeanelle Endsley Williams, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, died Saturday, June 24, 2006, and has reunited with family and friends in Heaven. She was born in the mountains of Paonia, Colorado on May 17, 1922, the second child of Eddie Earl Endsley and Velma Praxie Hobson. The family moved often, always looking for a better life. During the "dust bowl" years, like others of that era, she and her family often had to travel to find work, Living in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and California. Schooling was very important to her and books were often her friends when they moved to a new town or state. Maxine graduated from Englewood High School, Englewood, Colorado, in 1941. After her graduation, her brother was drafted into the service. The family, thinking that brother Gene would be stationed on the west coast, moved on to California where she and her mother worked as airplane mechanics for McDonald Douglas during World War II. Maxine met E J Williams, a handsome young Navy man, in Long Beach, California, who chased her until she caught him! E J worked daytime hours in the Navy and Maxine worked nights, however they went dancing every evening until it was time for her to catch the bus to work. E J Williams and Maxine were married in Long Beach, California on May 18, 1945. They welcomed a baby boy, Dale Patrick, into the family shortly before E J was discharged from the Navy in March of 1946. They traveled to northern California to visit Maxine's parents before heading across the Rockies in a 1931 vModel A to Hondo, Texas, E J's home town. Once in Hondo, they bought their first home for $2, 500. Here they welcomed daughters Sharon Rae in 1948 and Dena Sue in 1953. Maxine, E J, and Maxine's parents built their present home in 1956. Maxine was always ready to go with her family camping, fishing, or just for a picnic. She and E J were very active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, PTA, the youth program at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Band Boosters, and her children's education in general. Family and friends were extremely important. She instilled honesty, integrity, and the love of learning to her children and grandchildren. Her hobbies included dancing, playing cards, sewing, and fossil and rock collecting. Maxin and E J celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in May, the day after her 84th birthday. Maxine was much loved and was considered to be another mom to so many of her children's friends. She listened when they needed to talk, offered advice when asked, was stern when needed, yet generous with her hugs, and stretched meals to feed the many friends who stopped in to visit. She was gloriously happy to become a grandmother and loved having the grandchildren come to stay. Another generation of children and their friends were welcomed with open arms. Preceding Maxine in death were her parents, brother Wilbur Eugene Endsley, and grandson Samuel Clifton West. Survivors include E J, her husband of 61 years, son Pat Williams and wife Patty, daughter Sharon West, daughter Dena Stripling and husband Gary, grandchildren Brandon West, Jana Bluhm and husband Robert, Keely West, Trey Scott, and Kyle Williams, great-grandchildren Christopher, Shelby, and Zackery West, and other family and friends close to her heart. Visitation is to be held on Wednesday evening, June 28, 2006 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services for Maxine were held at Guinn-Horger Chapel in Hondo on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. The casketcarriers were Larry Keel, Chris Porter, William J. Strait, Phillip Schmiz, Mark Anderson, Phillip Weirich. The interment followed at the Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section.