Maxine L. Denbow Smith Obituary (1939 - 2024)

Maxine Lillian (Morse, Denbow) Smith, 85 passed away peacefully on the morning of Aug 5, 2024, with all 3 of her children by her side, at Marshal Manor in Machias. She was born April 29, 1939 in Harrington to Basil and Marjorie (Pinkham) Morse. She was raised in the Harrington area, when she was a teenager, she came to the Lubec, where she graduated in 1956. There she met and fell in love with Gordon Denbow. They were married a short time later and made their family home in Dixie. They raised their “3 Musketeers” together until Gordons death in 1976, he remained her lifelong love and we know they are together once again. Maxine was survived by her three children, Scott Denbow, Kim (Brian) Moores, and Judy (Laurence) Hayward. She has four grand kids, Sunshine (Larry), Misty (Sheldon “Boo”), “Little” Larry and Becky. Then along came the great grands, Veronica, Jessyka, Kellee and Bryan. She was able to help with their care and always available to go to games, school functions or just come hang out to watch a movie with them. Time went on though and soon they were parents themselves, by this time Grandma was in the nursing home and couldn’t be a part of the everyday events, but that didn’t stop her from bragging about her 2-greats as she called them, “I am a great-great grandma” she would tell EVERYONE! Sophia and Brinley had the most time with her, they would go on strolls in Eastport that always ended in a hot dog at Rosies and some candy from the shop downtown. Madalynn Maxine will always share her name and Allison shares her smile. They are blessed to have been able to have gotten some snuggles and pictures with Gr. Gr. Grandma. Right up until her final moments she would ask about her babies with a twinkle in her eye. Maxine was well known and much loved in the community and church. Anything that needed to be done she was the first one there and often the last one to leave, with a whole car full of anyone who needed a ride. She worked hard all her life, volunteering, her whole mission in life was helping others, showing them the love of Jesus. She worked many jobs over the years, from packing sardines, picking eggs, babysitting, haying and clamming with Gordon, caregiving, later in life she worked as a Sr Companion, clerk-helper at the Lubec Town Office. She also worked in the school office awhile, where she met a lot of her kids grown-up friends and their children. She loved to put the kids faces with their parents, figuring out who was who. She was called “Grandma” by many of them. She enjoyed going for rides, especially at Christmas to look at lights, ice cream rides were a favorite too. She loved flowers, birds and animals, owning many in her lifetime. Her last kitty friend was Emma, she wasn’t allowed at the nursing home, but they shared many facetime calls, over the last few years. She watched the birds and deer outside her window, finding comfort in them, even in her final days. She loved her family and often would travel to visit her “Ellsworth-Surry” crew when she was able. Sometimes for a day, and other times a longer vistit when the kids were younger so the cousins could all play together. When she was unable to drive, they would always attend her birthday celebrations and sometimes would just show up out of the blue to visit Aunt Maxine. She would light up when they came into the room, and she also enjoyed getting cards from the ones who lived to far away for a face-to-face visit. Even in her last years, she wrote to a few of her aunts and cousins, and church family, always staying in touch with them. Through her life she faced many challenges, always with a smile and kind heart, those burdens must have been so heavy at times. During these times we got to witness her love for the Lord, her head buried in her Bible searching for the answers, then she would share that experience with others. She was a blessing to so many. She had too many friends and special family members (many she adopted along the way, we are not going to mention them by name, for fear of leaving someone out, just know we are thankful for each one of you and the love you shared throughout her lifetime. Maxine was predeceased by her parents, husband Gordon, her in-laws Arthur and Jean, her brother Howard and his wife Joan, her sister Joyce and her companion Harry, her grandson-in-law Rod, along with many aunts, uncles and cousins, who she stayed in contact with over the years. She said “see you later” to many of her church friends and we can only imagine the rejoicing in Heaven, the day she was called home. Graveside services were held Thursday, August 8, 2024 at Split Hill Cemetery in Lubec, where she was buried next to our father Gordon. In lieu of money, please take some flowers to someone in need, show a kind heart to a child, or just hold a door open with a smile for a stranger. She loved everyone and let us show that love to each other today. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home.