Maxine Mansker, dearly loved wife of the late Nathaniel Mansker; mother of David Mansker of Port Hueneme, Calif., and Judy Ogne of Santa Rosa, Calif.; grandmother of five; and great-grandmother of six; slipped gently from this earth into the arms of Jesus Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, following a brief illness. She was 89.

She was born Aug. 9, 1923, to Ernest and Mary Summers Ford in Whitewater.

The Mansker family moved to Los Angeles in 1956. She had been a resident of Sonoma County since 1990.

Maxine cherished her family, helped others tirelessly, crafted blue ribbon quilts, baked incredible pies and lived to honor God through service in her church and Gideons International.

She is also survived by brothers George Ford of Longtown, Mo., Bill (Ruth Ann) Ford of Cape Girardeau, Jim Ford of Kelso, Mo., and many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brothers Ralph, Glen and Rob Ford, and Bob Sommers.

Graveside service was held Friday in Southern California, with a memorial celebration to follow later this month in Santa Rosa.

The Ford family celebrated Maxine's life with a memorial service at their family reunion in Cape Girardeau on Sunday.

Announcement courtesy of Ford and Sons Funeral Home.