Emma Maxine Stewart, 94, of Washington, KS, died Saturday, November 25, 2023, after a short stay at the Washington County Hospital.
Visitation will be Thursday, November 30, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Washington.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, December 1, at the United Methodist Church. Pastor Debbie Senters will officiate.
Burial will be at 2 p.m. in the Frankfort City Cemetery, on the north-west edge of Frankfort, KS.
Maxine was born on October 11, 1929, on a farm outside of Frankfort to Robert C. and Edna M. (McConchie) Warnica. She was the seventh of ten children. Maxine attended Fairmont rural school until the middle of the 6th grade. She then attended Frankfort Schools and graduated from Frankfort High School in 1947. In 2022, she attended her 75th reunion Alumni Banquet.
She met the love of her life, Leroy “Neal” Stewart, when she was a senior in high school and working at the drug store in Frankfort. On May 22, 1948, they were married at the Methodist Church in Frankfort. They were blessed with two daughters while in Hanover, Patricia and Debra.
Maxine helped Neal at Stewart Cleaners when needed. She worked part-time at Nelda’s Department Store until it closed. Maxine served on the library board several times and was an assistant librarian from 1986 until 2001. She worked at Washington Roofing and Antiques and helped with visitations at Ward Funeral Home.
Maxine and Neal were charter members of the Pony Express Campers. She was a long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary and served as an officer. She was a member of the Society of First Division (Neal’s WWII Army outfit) and a charter member of the WWII Memorial Society. She was also involved with the Priscilla Club until it dissolved, Washington County Historical Society, RSVP, and Red Hatters. Maxine always loved to read, she kept track of each book and has several recipe boxes full of index cards of the books she read. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles, watching horse races and cooking shows on TV. She loved dancing with Neal, having breakfast at Hometown Café in Barnes and Palmer Café, coffee with friends at Short Stop, but especially just being with family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Neal in 1993; daughter, Patricia Olmstead in 2019; granddaughter, Sarah Olmstead in 2020; sisters, Evelyn Mary Barnes, Etta Mae Parthemer, Elma Mable Hough, Ella Marie Gough, Eldana Marcine Ferguson, Elaine Marjorie Thompson and infant sister, Elizabeth Madge Warnica; brother, Emmett Marvin Warnica; as well as numerous brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law and many friends.
Survivors include her daughter, Debra (Perry) Nutsch, Washington; son-in-law, Chuck Olmstead, Las Lunas, NM; brother, Robert William (Nelda) Warnica, Manhattan; granddaughters, Heather (Kyle) Flory, Overbrook, KS, and Jaime (Luke) Terry, Robinson, KS; and five great-grandchildren, Alexa, Ben, Zach and Abby Olmstead and Miah Terry.
A memorial fund has been established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home.
