April 25, 2017

Maxine Bowman Staley, 91, died Saturday evening, April 22, 2017, at Hiawatha Community Hospital surrounded by her family. She had made her home next door to her daughter and son-in-law Linda and Steve Korthanke of rural Robinson, Kan., for the past 16 years.
Maxine was born Dec. 5, 1925, at Buffalo, Kan., one of five children born to Arnold and Hazel Gilliland Moreland. She had spent most of her life in the Osawatomie, Kan., area where she worked as an activity therapist for the Osawatomie State Hospital for most of her working life.
She attended the Baptist Church at Osawatomie. She was a ham radio operator (an activity that was male dominant) and a member of the Red Hat Society of the Hiawatha, Kan., area. While still in school herself, she was asked to be the basketball coach and teacher at Parker, Kan. She loved music of all types with her favorite being blue grass. Maxine was an artist – she enjoyed painting of all types: oil, watercolor, acrylic, etc. To say that she enjoyed collecting elephants was an understatement!
Survivors include her children: Linda Korthanke (Steve) of rural Robinson, Barbara Nash of Centerville, Kan., Dianna Swinehart (Mike) of Paola, Kan., LaDonna Cornett (Glenn) of Parker, Roger Bowman (Linda) of La Cygne, Kan.; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Maxine also had a very special friend she called a daughter, Walta Fry.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband for nearly 25 years Frankie Bowman; her second husband – they were married for nearly 10 years – Earl Staley; and three grandchildren, Tennille McCracken, Scott Nash and Stacie Koelsch. She was the last survivor of her family: three brothers, Jake, Keith and Junior; and a sister, Ruth.
Graveside services are planned for 2 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at Goodrich Cemetery near Parker.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Maxine Staley Memorial Fund, sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S. Seventh St., Hiawatha, KS 66434.
A special message or remembrance may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com