Maxine Chartier
Maxine Mae Uphoff Chartier, 90, of Simpsonville, S.C., passed away Aug. 9, 2013, from a chronic illness.
She was born in Peabody, Kan., on Nov. 19, 1922. In her earliest years the family farmed in Western Kansas near Dodge City. Her parents were the late Ruby and Lester Uphoff of Peabody. She survived two husbands, William B. Bradham and Kenneth L. Chartier.
Throughout her life, Maxine lived in Peabody; Wichita, Kan.; Dallas, Texas; Long Beach and Sacramento, Calif.; London, England; Landrum, S.C.; and Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Bellaire Bluffs, Fla. More recently she moved from Florida to Simpsonville, S.C., to be near family.
She attended a one-room school house in Western Kansas, survived the 1930s dust bowl years, and then with her family, moved back to Peabody. She graduated from Peabody High School with the class of 1939 and attended American Business College from 1940 to 1941 in Wichita. As a youth, Maxine was very active in 4-H club and won style, sewing, and health awards at the Kansas State College 4-H Fair of 1939.
Through self-education and employment, she diligently sought to improve herself. She worked at JC Penney (alterations), Beech aircraft (1945), Russell Stover (retail sales), HK Ferguson Co. (accounting), Bigelow Mills Carpet (secretary), and St. Petersburg City Planning Department (administrative assistant II), where she participated in the Bayboro Harbor Redevelopment Plan and then retired in 1985. Afterward, she also worked for, and retired a second time in 2006 from Whitehall Enterprises in Bellaire Bluffs as vice president and property manager.
She enjoyed music and played the clarinet in high school and the organ in later years. Maxine enjoyed her children, church, boating, travel, and work and was very active in the community. She served on the Advisory Board of Orlando’s Jordan Marsh in 1964. In 1965, she served as treasurer, and in 1964 as president of the Central Florida Council Welcome Wagon.
Maxine was a member of the St. Petersburg Power Squadron Auxiliary, District 22, from 1964 to 1998, where she earned her pilot certificate and served as radio tech chairman for several years starting in 1994. She was also president of the Western Florida Power Squadron Women’s Auxiliary in 1976.
Her interests included Cub Scouting, sewing, power boating, reading, gardening (especially orchids), cats, and amateur radio (license KB4QYF received in 1985). She was formerly a member of the St. Pete Area Repeaters Club and an active member and treasurer of the Bayshore Business Association.
She and Kenneth had five children, of whom Rene Chartier died in infancy. Maxine is survived by her four sons and their wives, Robert and Kathleen, Philip and Vicky, William and Elaine, and Jon and Ann. Maxine had four grandchildren, Sean, Robyn (deceased), Kelly, and Kerry; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at Advent Methodist Church, Simpsonville. Later, she, along with her husband, Kenneth, will be interred in the Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Peabody near her parents and infant daughter.
Memorials, if desired, may be sent to Anona Methodist Church where she was a longtime member, 13233 Indian Rocks Rd., Largo, FL 33774. More recently she became a member of Advent Methodist Church in Simpsonville. Inquiries may be made to Bill Chartier at telephone (864) 979-9765.
Maxine will be deeply missed by family and all her many friends.