Obituary of Maxine Andrews

Maxine Pearl was the first child and only daughter of Albert & Lu Billenwillms. She was born on June 11,1922, in Burr Oak, Kansas. She departed this earthly life on December 21, 2014, after a brief illness. Maxine lived with her family in the Burr Oak community until 1926, when the family moved to Wichita, Kansas. In 1939, they again moved to the town of Kanorado, Kansas, where Maxine finished her senior year of high school, graduating in the class of 1940. Moving in her senior year was difficult at first because of the limited curriculum, but she soon became friends with her classmates and had many pleasant memories of her senior year. The senior trip to Carlsbad Caverns was an especially fun time for her. Coming to Burlington was always an adventure in those days, and on one memorable evening she came to a dance where she met her true love and future husband, Ortis Andrews. The couple eloped to Goodland , Kansas on a snowy Christmas Eve in 1941. Ortis entered active military service in September, 1942, and Maxine lived with her parents on a farm south of Kanorado. Upon his return in 1946, the couple moved to Burlington, where they continued to reside. Maxine was a mother and homemaker during the following years, the couple being the parents of four children, Sandra, Jerry, Sue, and Buddy. Maxine kept very busy, cooking, sewing , helping with many activities such as scouts, Rainbow girls, and dance lessons. She was also an active member of several organizations, VFW Auxiliary, Order of the Eastern Star, and Quo Vadis. She was a member of the First Christian Church, and Women’s Fellowship, serving in many capacities and helping with many fund raising events. After her youngest child was well into school she began working part-time at Zimbelman Jewelry, where she loved helping shop for jewelry , china, and gift items. In later years, Maxine and Ortis enjoyed bowling, golfing, traveling to Bronco games and CU football games, traveling to various square dancing events as members of the Wagon Wheelers square dance club, and spending winters in Arizona . They had some very memorable cruises, and bus trips, vacationing in many places including the Caribbean, Alaska, Switzerland, Hawaii, England,and Ireland, as well as trips to various parts of the United States. After losing her husband in 1998,Maxine continued to love to travel, and to spend as much time as possible visiting children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was always ready to go to any event on a moment’s notice, and didn’t miss many school activities involving her family. Each new grandchild or great-grandchild was welcomed with one of her crocheted or knitted blankets. She also created many lovely needlepoint pictures. She had a close group of friends who like to spend an evening out for dinner or just visiting with one another. More recently she had become a member of the Red Hats group. She lived a very full and active life for as long as she was able. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brothers Verle, Merle Boyd, and James Lee. Also preceding her were all of her bothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her children, Sandra Meyers and husband Ron, Jerry and wife Becki, Sue Holmes and husband Dwight, and Buddy and wife Mary. Also surviving are her ten grandchildren and their spouses, three step-grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren.