Maxine Janice (Steen) Chambers 1922-2006

Maxine Janice (Steen) Chambers passed away on Monday, June 19, 2006 at her home in St. James, Missouri. She was 83 years of age.

Maxine was born on October 2, 1922 near Royal, Missouri, the second child born to William Everett and Clara Grace (Mosher) Steen. She lived her early years in St. James, where she attended grade school and graduated from St. James High School in May of 1940. Always aspiring to be a nurse, she began working as a receptionist at McFarland's Hospital in Rolla, MO. In 1942, she applied to Washington University School of Nursing where she earned her Graduate Nurse degree in 1948. After finishing her bachelor degree in 1948, she continued her nursing career accepting a position as supervisor for the outpatient department clinic of the Leahi Tuberculosis Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. She went on to graduate in 1956 from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor of Public Health Nursing. After returning stateside, Maxine practiced nursing in San Jose, CA, Corpus Christi, TX, and Memphis, TN. In 1960, she received her Masters of Public Health Nursing degree at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She worked at the University of Tennessee Department of Pediatrics in Memphis and was Staff Education Director with Memphis and Shelby County Health Department in Tennessee. She retired from her nursing career after teaching at both Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and the University of Missouri at Columbia.

In 1940, Maxine was introduced to her husband of 62 years, William "Bill" Pierce Chambers in St. James, MO while he was home on leave from the U.S. Navy. On July 29, 1943, Bill and Maxine were married at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Chicago, IL. With Bill in the military, they traveled to a number of duty stations throughout his 20 years of service. In 1972, Bill and Maxine returned to St. James, building a home near High Gate, where they lived for 32 years. Maxine was active as past President of the Garden Club in St. James and as a state judge for flower shows. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church where she was a past council member. She very much enjoyed entertaining her family and friends, working in the garden, taking care of her dogs, and staying in touch with her many friends. In 2005, with declining health, the couple moved to her parent's home in St. James. On June 19, 2006, Maxine passed away peacefully to be with her Heavenly Father.

Maxine is preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Ellen Bernice Steen in 1932; one brother, Merel Jackson Steen in 1993; and her husband Bill, who passed away on June 29, 2005. She is survived by four nephews: Merel W. Steen and wife Loveta of Cook Station, Missouri; Duane Steen and Betty of Eureka, California; Joel Steen of San Jose, California; and Terry Steen and wife Lynda of Corpus Christi, Texas; three nieces: Deborah Schoolcraft and husband Roger of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Kathleen Glenn and husband Ellory of Ferguson, Missouri; and Elizabeth Edgar and husband John of St. James, Missouri; 18 great nieces and nephews; 14 great-great nieces and nephews; and an extended family and a host of friends who will miss her greatly.

Services
Visitation for Maxine will be from 5 - 8 PM, Saturday, June 24, 2006 at the Jones Funeral Home Chapel in St. James, Missouri.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Sunday, June 25, 2006 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in St. James, Missouri with Reverend Patricia Teets and Steve Barber officiating. Pallbearers will be: Merel W. Steen; Shawn Steen; Duane Steen; Joel Steen; David Abarca and Glendon Klossner. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Don Wyatt; James Steen; Steve Barber; and Dr. Hugh Barlett. Music will be provided by vocalist Lori Garver and Donna Bond as the organist. Burial will be in the family plot in the High Gate Baptist Church Cemetery in High Gate, Missouri.

Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Episcopal Church in St. James, Missouri. Cards are available at Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.