Maxine Lee Smith
May 8, 1945 - December 21, 2022

Maxine Lee Smith, 77, passed away in Odon, December 21, 2022, with her daughter, Lesa, at her side. Maxine was born May 8, 1945, at home in rural Odon, to Helen Esther Byrer. Her father was William "Bill" Byrer. Maxine attended Raglesville School and Odon High School.

As a young woman, Maxine worked as a farm hand. She, then, worked at RCA in Bloomington for thirty-seven years. After retiring from RCA at the age of fifty-five, she went to work at the Odon JayC store. After working at JayC, Maxine found her true calling as a home healthcare giver. For around twelve years, she took care of many in Odon, Washington, Elnora, and Loogootee -all of her charges held a special place in her heart.

Although Maxine worked hard all her life, she enjoyed life in her free time. She loved to dance and listen to music, especially bluegrass and country. She liked wearing rings and usually had one on every finger. Maxine loved to dine out, and go shopping. But, of all her hobbies, she loved traveling the most. She enjoyed going to Nashville, Tennessee, whenever she could, and traveled to Alaska for her retirement trip, as well as trips to Hawaii, New York, Las Vegas, the US Virgin Island and Niagara Falls.

Maxine was a member of the Shoals Eagles, Loogootee American Legion Auxiliary, Odon VFW Auxiliary, and the Moose Lodge. She also attended the Shiloh Church of God.

Maxine was a loving mother and friend to many. She always had a kind smile, laugh, or joke for anyone who needed it. Many times, you would see her pitching in to help her daughter at her job, or giving people rides who otherwise had no transportation. She was a survivor of kidney cancer, but, later was diagnosed with dementia which she could not defeat.

Maxine leaves her daughter, Lesa Smith of Odon; a sister, Violet (Norman) Fitzgerald of Pinellas, Florida; nephew, Ronald Veller of Washington; niece, Beverly (Jr.) Taylor of Loogootee; half-siblings: Edith Knight of Odon, Cheryl Holcomb, Jerry Byrer, and Richard Byrer all of Elnora.

Maxine was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Esther Byrer; her father, William "Bill" Byrer; grandparents, Earl and Fern (Resler) Byrer; sister, Rhoda Sue Byrer; half-brother, Billy Byrer; and her companion of seventeen years, Roscoe Wilson Brown, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Maxine's memory to the American Alzheimers Association, 50 East 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46209-4830.

Visitation for Maxine L. Smith will be 5:00-7:00 pm, Wednesday, December 28, 2022, AND 12:00-2:00 pm, Thursday, December 29, 2022, at the Ed L. Lee Mortuary, 620 East Viola Avenue, Washington.

Funeral services for Maxine L. Smith will be 2:00 pm, Thursday, December 29, 2022, also at the Ed L. Lee Mortuary. Pastor Mark Hammaker will officiate.

Burial will be in the Sugarland Memory Gardens.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.edleemortuary.com

The staff of the Ed L. Lee Mortuary is honored to have been entrusted with Maxine Smith's arrangements.

Tributes