Maxine Bolin's Obituary
Two things happened on November 8th of 1927: Maxine was born, and the world became a little brighter. Born fifth in line out of nine children in a little town called Formosa, Arkansas, Maxine often recalled that she was “too young for the older kids and too old for the younger kids.” But despite that, she enjoyed her family and the Saturday trips into town getting pastries and the walks to church on Sunday mornings with her friends and siblings. In 1946, when it finally came time for Maxine to leave the nest after her family’s move to Florida, she decided to go to Washington DC to help with the war effort. She enjoyed her time in DC with her friends and sister Sarah going to various dinner and orchestra clubs, the picture show, encountering escalators for the first time, and entertaining her parents when they would visit.
When the war effort was over, she eventually made her way back to Missouri where she met her husband Sanford Oteen Bolin. He begged her sister Leona to introduce them to which she said, “She wouldn’t even look twice at you.” Needless to say, they were married 18 months later in 1948. The two of them started their family with the birth of their son Keith in 1952 and later with the birth of their daughter Kathy in 1959. Maxine allegedly wasn’t too much of a fan of pets but allowed the addition of Cindy the family Chihuahua. (Little did she know how many future pets would bark and meow their way into her life to test that statement as well). She made her career with the Department of Family Services for Pemiscot County where she worked her way up to Supervisor 2 before retiring in 1990. She and Sanford moved to Rogers, Arkansas, in 1996 to be closer to family and their grandchildren Emily, Michael, Kelsi, and Meredith. She would also have the additions of great-grandchildren Dakota, Emma Grace, Weston, Waylon, and Wyatt. In moving to NWA, she also found some forever friends in her neighbors and members of her church. Her status as “Bread Lady” at church didn’t hurt her popularity either, I’m sure.
Whether it was rolling backwards in a stalled car at the top of a hill in the middle of the rain, climbing trees, playing kickball, or going to Wendy’s after church on Sundays, Maxine always found a way to make something fun, entertaining, and to leave behind a sassy one-liner or two… or three. Despite her silliness, her advice to her family was always practical: “if you’re five minutes early, you’re ten minutes late,” “listen to what is going on around you,” “work hard and try to be honest,” and “treat other people like how you would want to be treated.” She brightened the lives of all she touched and is a true example of the quiet dignity of a Southern lady. Maxine will forever be in our hearts, and the handprint she left on our souls will be a constant reminder of the woman we all know and love. She will surely be missed but absolutely never forgotten.
We love you, Maxine.
Her favorite scriptures:
John 3:16 “for God so who loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth.”
A visitation will be held 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Friday May 23, 2025, at Grace Baptist Church in Rogers with Funeral Service beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the Fayetteville National Cemetery under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home Rogers.
What’s your fondest memory of Maxine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Maxine?
Share a story where Maxine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Maxine you’ll never forget.
How did Maxine make you smile?
