Evelyn Maxine Easter

Maxine Easter was born on May 10, 1931, in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, to Charles William Blackwell and Esther Eleanor Blackwell (nee Jones.) Soon thereafter the family moved to the Kansas City area where she and her brother Charles (C.W.) were raised. (Evelyn always chose to go by her middle name Maxine, and we could see by her school records that in junior high, she finally convinced her teachers to call her Maxine also. She loved going fishing with her Dad and admired her Mom’s gentle spirit.

The family was long-time members of Independence Avenue Baptist Church in Kansas City, and she became a Christian at an early age. Later, Maxine would follow the example of her parents in Christian service: her father taught Sunday School and her mother was the church pianist.

Maxine moved to California in the early 1950s, married William A. Easter, and worked with him at his medical practice in Joshua Tree for close to 20 years. They raised three children, Donald Eugene, Sara Lucille, and David Charles. They enjoyed living near the Joshua Tree National Monument, as it was called back then, and were involved in community activities as well as the Joshua Tree First Baptist Church, where Maxine was the organist and choir director.

Her children remember her as being supportive. She encouraged them to do their very best and was immensely proud of their accomplishments. She often said she was happy that her children stayed in close contact with each other even though they moved to different states.

Shortly after William’s passing in 1979, Maxine moved to Loma Linda, CA, where she began another period of her life. Since her children were grown, she became active in volunteering at the San Bernardino County Museum, Loma Linda Hospital, and the food bank. She also served as a church organist where her music blessed many people. Maxine sometimes did volunteer missionary work, which took her away from her home for a few months at a time. Of course, when the grandchildren came along, she liked to visit them and encourage them in their musical development.

Because of excruciating back spasms, Maxine had to taper off of her volunteer work and music service. She recently received an award for volunteer hours at Loma Linda Hospital and is well-remembered as a diligent worker at the County Museum.

Maxine passed away peacefully on November 18, 2014, with her children, Sara and Donald holding her hands and praying with her as she stepped into God’s Kingdom of Light. She was preceded in death by her parents, C.W. Blackwell and Esther Blackwell. She leaves behind three children: Donald, Sara, and David, and two grandchildren: David and Joshua.

There will be a Memorial Service for Maxine Easter at Grand View Baptist Church, 22755 Vista Grande Way, Grand Terrace, CA, 92313 at 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 23, 2014. Friends are welcome to come and share their memories of this special woman.