Maxine Nelson

Maxine Buford Nelson, 91, died August 12, 2014, at Lima Memorial Health System, Lima, OH. She was born in Cleaton, Kentucky, on April 11, 1923, to William Earl Buford and Lena Ayers Buford. She had lived in Cleaton, Nelson, and Martwick, Kentucky, before moving to Louisville in 1947. In September 2013, she moved from Valley Station, KY, to Otterbein Retirement Community, near Lima, OH, to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law.

She married her high school sweetheart, Paul Edward Nelson on September 15, 1947, at Drakesboro United Methodist Church and they were married for almost 55 years. They spent many wonderful years fishing on Barkley Lake and Kentucky Lake, where Paul was a fishing guide. She worked in the office at Apples, a men's clothing store on Fourth Street for several years. She then took a position at Philip Morris working in the laboratory. She retired many years ago, but she still talked about how much she enjoyed her job and all her friends there. The company was very good to her. After retirement, she and Paul enjoyed fishing and spending time with friends and family.

She was a very generous and loving mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and neighbor. She loved everyone and everyone seemed to love her. She enjoyed knitting, doing word puzzles, watching U of K basketball games, bowling, and music. She loved her Boston Terrier, Buckeye, and they were inseparable. She would play the piano and Buckeye would sing. She was a life-long member of the Valley Eastern Star Chapter 65 and a long-time member of Bethany United Methodist Church in Valley Station.

Maxine was a very strong person and she had a deep faith that helped her through some very difficult times. Her generosity, optimism, positive outlook on life, and her ability to show love to all will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Maxine is survived by her daughter, Carol Ann Hearne (Edmund), of Lima, OH; her grandson, Edmund (Jennifer), of Sahuarita, AZ; her granddaughter, Catharine Rankin (David), of Providence, RI; and several nieces and a nephew.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-brother, Jack Sears; and two brothers, William Edmond and James Willard, who both died in infancy; two nieces and a nephew. Her beloved husband, Paul, died in 2002. Even though Alzheimers had taken his memories and the ability to speak, his eyes always lit up when she entered his room. They were a very special couple.

Viewing will be at Heady-Hardy Funeral Home, 7710 Dixie Hwy., Louisville, KY, Sunday, August 17, 2014, between 2 pm and 6 pm. Funeral services will be at Heady-Hardy Funeral Home on Monday, August 18, 2014 at 10 am. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Central City, Kentucky, on Monday, August 18, 2014 Memorial gifts may be sent to Alzheimer's Association, Bethany United Methodist Church in Valley Station, or the donor's choice.