Lulu Wilson Obituary

Lulu Maxine Wilson

August 13, 1923 - November 12, 2016

Lulu Maxine Wilson passed away November 12, 2016. She was born in Polo, Mo., the only child of Sherman and Besse Henkins. She grew up in Hamilton, Mo. where she met her husband Gordon at the age of 12. They married in 1943 while Gordon was in the U.S. Army. Maxine returned to college, graduating in 1944 - the first member of her extended family to do so.

After WWII, Maxine and Gordon moved to Kansas and then California, settling finally in Ashland, Ore. in 1969 when Gordon was hired to teach in the School of Education at Southern Oregon College. She lived in Ashland until her death. She taught science and home economics during the war, then home economics at Hemet High School in California, then sewing classes at a variety of locations in the Rogue Valley. She taught at her home until her 93rd birthday. She taught all of her granddaughters to sew, a dying art.

Maxine loved people, parties, a good story, and a joke on herself. She loved high school and college football, especially the Ashland High School Grizzlies and the Oregon Ducks. After church she loved to stand outside and talk until she had to be dragged to the car, still talking. She was loved by all.

Maxine is survived by her daughter, Diana (Richard) Shavey; her sons, Bruce (Ana), Craig (Lori), and Mark; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; eight step and great-grandchildren; and two step-great-great-grandchildren. She lives on in them. She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 26, 2016 at First Methodist Church in Ashland, Ore. Her many friends are invited to attend.