Maydell was born to Walter James and Lona Mae Teague Pinson on February 16, 1924 in her grandparents’ farm house near Hughes Springs, Texas. A child of the depression, her family struggled, but found a way to care for each other. They moved frequently, but she always went to church and excelled in school, graduating valedictorian of her class in Rodessa, Louisiana. She majored in Home Economics at Louisiana Tech and graduated with honors in 1944.
Chemistry classes were part of the degree requirements for Home Economics majors. This being during the war, these women were recruited by Humble Oil to work in their labs in Baytown, Texas. She began work in the butyl rubber plant laboratory upon graduation. It could be dangerous work and two women she worked with were killed in an explosion in the lab.
After the war, she transferred to a day shift at the refinery’s light hydrocarbon lab. A high school classmate introduced her to his college roommate, Rollie Williams, who was a physicist working in her building. They married in 1950 and Maydell quit work to raise their 4 daughters.
Maydell was a member of the home economics club, was a girl scout leader, and was made an honorary life member of the San Jacinto Elementary PTA where she held several positions during the years her daughters attended and was in charge of their fundraiser spaghetti supper for many years. In addition, she taught Bible classes at church and volunteered with the literacy program at the Sterling Municipal Library. She was certified as a teacher and substituted several years in the 70’s as well as teaching homemaking for a full year at Sterling High School. She sewed most of her daughters’ clothes and loved to entertain whether it was new employees in Rollie’s department, friends from church or gathering her family around the table to enjoy a meal.
Maydell and Rollie had 48 wonderful years together before he died in 1998. Five years later she got to know Niles Brill through the Lee College program for seniors. She and Niles married in 2004 and were blessed with 14 years together until his death in 2018. They enjoyed frequent trips throughout the US.
Maydell was preceded in death by her beloved husband Rollie Williams, beloved second husband Niles Brill, parents Lona Mae and Walter Pinson, brothers Max and Lex Pinson, daughter Wanda Martin, and grandson Anthony Cross.
She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Karen and Mike Cross, Linda Williams and Steve Dutton, Susan and Peter Ehlig, and Bruce Martin; grandchildren Steven (Jeeranan) Cross, Clara (Matt) Griffey, Victoria Artripe, Linda Moore, Amanda Martin and Daniel Martin; great grandchildren Alexandria and Evan Artripe, Pinson and Rollie Griffey, Paige and Connor Moore, and Skyler Cross; brother-in-law Paul Williams; sisters-in-law Bethul Williams and June Pinson; nieces Nancy Kenney, Kathy Williams, Patti Wade; nephews Jim Pinson, Stanton and Thayne Williams; and Niles’ children Larry Brill and Lola Putnam.
Visitation will be held from 9 - 10 am, Saturday, September 24, 2022, at Navarre Funeral Home, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX 77521. Funeral Service will begin at 10 am. Interment will follow at Amos Barber Cemetery, in Mont Belvieu, TX.
Pallbearers will be: Steve Cross, Daniel Martin, Matt Griffey, Peter Ehlig, Bruce Martin, and Stanton Williams.
If you wish to honor Maydell’s life with a donation, these may be made to the food pantry at Missouri Street Church of Christ, PO Box 4295, Baytown, TX 77522; Baytown Historical Museum, 220 W Defee Ave, Baytown, TX 77520; or Sterling Municipal Library, 1 Mary Elizabeth Wilbanks Ave, Baytown, TX 77520. Special thanks to Heartis of Waco, Halcyon Hospice, and Right at Home for their tender care during those last difficult months.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.navarrefuneralhome.com for the Williams family.
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