Maxine Lynette Miller McLeod was born October 12, 1925 (on her mother’s birthday) and passed away January 21, 2023 at the age of 97. She grew up on a 160-acre farm in Sandusky, Michigan as the oldest of Neva (Stoutenberg) and Eugene Miller’s four children.
She graduated valedictorian at Sandusky High School, then earned a BA in History at Alma College in 1949. It was at Alma where she met John McLeod, a WWII Army veteran she married in 1948. They were married for 53 years before his passing in 2001. She and John made their home in Roseville, Michigan. He was active in the Roseville schools for many years, retiring as principal of Carl Brablec High School, now part of Roseville High.
Maxine was active for many years in the United Way and Women of United Foundation, participating in Health-o-Rama sites in Metro Detroit and serving as Individual Accounts Chair for the Tri-County Area. She was a choir member and elder at Roseville’s Erin United Presbyterian Church, followed by choir membership at First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Clemens. Maxine was a founding member of the Roseville Historical and Genealogical Society where she served as president. She was also an early officer in the Friends of the Roseville Public Library. She was active in the formation of the Roseville Arts Festival featuring numerous musical groups who performed in the Roseville High School auditorium. Maxine’s life was marked by devotion to raising her five girls, a commitment to community service, lifelong curiosity, love of travel, and an interest in history and politics.
Maxine is predeceased by sisters Audrey Miller Ferguson and Reva Jane Lemke Leach, brother Eugene (Marilyn) Miller and daughter Louanne Plummer. She is survived by four daughters and four sons-in-law; Lynette McLeod and David Tait of Lake Orion, Laurie Hirth of Fowlerville, Lisa and Michael Maggard of Columbus, Ohio, Mark Plummer of Winter Park, Florida, and Melissa and Tom Riss of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; nine grandchildren and their spouses; Chelsea, Roxanne and Hayley Sheldon; Joseph and Erin Hirth and Michael Hirth; Alexander Maggard and Joanna Lord, and Andrew Maggard; Jillian Riss and Sam Sullivan; Erin and Kyle Hughes. Also, two great-grandsons, Callum Maggard and Everett Hirth.
Many thanks to the staff of Stratford Place (now Serene Gardens) Assisted Living in Rochester Hills for their wonderful care. Visitation at 10:00 am followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Clemens, Michigan on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Memorial donations may be made to Alma College - McLeod Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship*, or First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Clemens Memorial Fund.
*Memorial gifts may be made to Alma College with the notation “The McLeod Family Endowed Scholarship” in the memo line, and sent to Alma College Advancement Office, 614 W. Superior St, Alma, MI 4880. Gifts can also be made online at https://www.alma.edu/giving/make-a-gift/ by clicking on the link to the Online Giving Page, selecting “other” from the Designation dropdown menu, and writing “McLeod Family Scholarship” in the “Notes” area.
