MERTIE MAXINE ANDERSON

Mertie Maxine Anderson was born December 22, 1927, to Cyril and Marguerite (Frost) Greene. She lived her entire life in the Ringgold County area, graduating from Mount Ayr High School with the class of 1946. She married her high school sweetheart, Max Tennant Anderson, on May 11, 1947. To this union was born a son, David Lynn, and a daughter, Sharla Lynn, and blessed by adoption a son, Kelly Lynn. Maxine taught country school the year following her high school graduation. After her marriage, she became a housewife and a partner with her husband in running their business, the Mount Ayr Mill and Feed Company.
Maxine was active in the community serving with the Gray Ladies Hospital Auxiliary, volunteering at the Red Cross bloodmobile, serving as president of the Rose Hill Cemetery board, playing piano for the church services at the nursing homes and organizing and serving many of the funeral dinners at the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church where she was a member. Maxine was also a member of the Mount Ayr Embers during the time Max served as a volunteer firefighter and she was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed her flowers, garden and doing yard work and was one of the best cooks making many holiday dinners and her special pies and chocolate chip cookies. One of her greatest joys was her grandchildren whom she was a babysitter to for several years. In September 2018, after living in her same home for over 70 years, she made the move to Clearview Estates Assisted Living where she enjoyed the company of others, activities and assistance she needed in her older years.
She entered Clearview Home in May due to failing health and passed away there on December 30, 2021.
Maxine was preceded in death by her son, David; her parents; her husband of 65 years, Max; parents-in-law, Jesse and Edna Anderson; brother, Cyril Dean Greene, and his wife, Elizabeth; brother-in-law, Bill Rusk; and sister-in-law, Marion Anderson.
Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Sharla (Steve) Norris; son, Kelly Anderson; grandchildren, Shannon (Josh) Rusk, Scott (Brooke) Norris, Molly (Sam) Taylor, Anthony Anderson; great grandsons, Nathan and Wyatt Rusk, Callen and Briar Norris; sister-in-law, Thelma Rusk; nieces, nephews and friends.
Services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, IA,
Officiating was Rev. Al Rusk.
Music was “Precious Memories” and “Amazing Grace”.
Casketbearers were Josh Rusk, Scott Norris, Nathan Rusk, Sam Taylor, Mack Greene, Maurice Greene and Anthony Anderson.
Burial was at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr, IA.
Memorials are to the Rose Hill Cemetery.