Maxie Stapleton

The Reverend Maxie Anne Stapleton left the constraints of this world to be with our Lord in Heaven on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at the age of 82. She was born on August 13, 1938 in Sweetwater, Texas and was the only child of Jessie Maxie Null and Sylvia Anne Null. While a young girl the family relocated to Redgate, Texas where her father took up farming and ranching. They eventually settled in San Juan, Texas where Maxie attended PSJA High School. Maxie worked for the McAllen business college where she taught Personal Development before working for South Western Bell as a Customer Service Representative. She later attended Pan American University where she obtained her real estate and brokers license which was maintained until recent years. She managed properties in Port Aransas, Corpus Christi, and Kerrville at various points in her professional career and served as Avis Car Rental’s Regional Operations Manager in the South Texas region for numerous years; However Maxie always seemed to gravitate back to her home in the Rio Grande Valley. One of her proudest achievements was becoming an ordained New Thought Christianity minister in association with Unity, as well as helping establish Unity of the Valley in Pharr, Texas. In her role as minister she helped the Unity Church in Pharr as an associate pastor, presiding over numerous weddings and funerals of prominent valley citizens. In her later years she worked for Terry Creative Photography, and handled marketing for Dr. Victor Castro, Cardiologist.

Maxie was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She loved dancing, cooking, being with friends and family, always had a keen wit and terrific sense of humor, loved to laugh and her contagious smile will be dearly missed. Her family would like to thank her caregivers Tracy Escanero, Melanie Cox and Melanie’s daughters Cathrine and Cecelia, all of whom took excellent care of her over the last two and a half years, along with Devoted Healthcare & Hospice as well as McAllen Heart Hospital, Dr. Leslie Kalman, Dr. Victor Castro, and Dr. Will Crespo.

Maxie is preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Howard, her daughter Dawn Maxzanne Layer, and grandson Keith Cameron Thrailkill. She is survived by her two sons Robert “Sonny” Markham (Lynn), Royce Cameron (Brenda), grandchildren Justin Denton Ramsey, Chance Royce Gulley, Amber Dawn Thrailkill (Jason Hall), Angus Montague Markham, Kelby Royce Cameron, Kendyl Anne Cameron, and great-grandchildren McKenzie Mae Hall, Meadow Marie Hall, and MaeLee Maxzanne Hall and Octavius Montague Markham. Also, two great-great grandchildren Michael Avery Verdin and Ariyah Lydia Verdin.

She will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Cemetery in Edinburg, Texas on Monday, January 25th at 11:00AM.