Maurine Houser Poole

Maurine Claire Houser Poole, 95, died peacefully in the home she loved on the evening of Tuesday, November 7. Maurine was born Sept. 11, 1922 to the late Floyd M., Jr., and Claire P. Houser and was a lifelong resident of Jacksonville. She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School and was married for 61 years to the late Merrell L. Poole. Their lives revolved around family, friends, neighbors and church until his death in 2003. Among her many activities, Maurine was especially devoted to Swaim United Methodist Church, where she applied her gardening talents to the church grounds and worked tirelessly on flowers and sanctuary arrangements for holidays and special occasions. In 1956, she was the co-founder of the Empire Point Garden Circle with her friend Audrey Kuhling Barnard. She was a gifted flower-arranger who over the years participated in numerous flower show competitions where she often won blue and even tri-color ribbons. She also loved painting, which she took up as a hobby with her mother in the late 1960s and which led to her longtime membership in the Jacksonville Artists’ Gallery. She and Merrell loved traveling and took many memorable trips, often with friends, to places near and far. With Merrell, she enjoyed their network of neighbors and friends through Empire Point Investments, Inc. and San Jose Country Club, both of which she belonged to for over 50 years. Maurine deeply loved her immediate and extended family, was graced with a ready laugh and sense of humor, and conveyed a sense of joy throughout her long life, even through her final years with dementia.

She was predeceased recently by her beloved son, Ronald Robert Poole, who was 67 at the time of his death. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Sue Poole (Wes Hudson); daughter-in-law, Lynn Hedquist Poole; grandsons, Ronald Robert Poole, Jr., John William Poole, and David Merrell Poole; granddaughter, Lena Claire Hudson; brothers, Floyd M. Houser, III (Helen Ruth, deceased), John W. Houser (Phyllis K., deceased), and Lawrence D. Houser; sisters-in-law, Chieko S. Houser and Yvonne F. Houser; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. We will all miss her dearly. The family would also like to express our deepest appreciation to Mildred Seay, Rebecca Edwards, Gail Flores, and Mary Worth Crouch, the wonderful caregivers who helped and supported her so lovingly in her final years.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 12 at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 13 at Swaim United Methodist Church, 1620 Naldo St., with interment and reception to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. Contributions can be made in Maurine’s name to Swaim United Methodist Church, 1620 Naldo St., Jacksonville, 32207.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com.