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Maxine Clare Lemon, 79, passed away peacefully in the loving embrace of her family on Oct. 6, 2008, in Santa Rosa.

Maxine was born on Oct. 23, 1928, to Dewey and Cecelia Minkel in Anaconda, Mont., and was the eldest of five children. Her family moved to Portland, Ore., where she attended school and helped her mother raise her young siblings. At the age of 16, she met and married Glen Philips, and moved to Ft. Bragg, and had three children before her 21st birthday. They moved to the East Bay where she proudly earned her high school diploma. Soon thereafter, she began a 30-year career with Colgate Palmolive Company.

In 1972, she married John Lemon and lived in Concord. He predeceased her in March of 2008. She moved to Sonoma and spent four happy months at Merrill Gardens retirement community. She was a spunky redhead, who was proud of her Irish heritage. Maxine was an avid gardener who loved daffodils and also loved crocheting. She made over 10,000 hats for Kaiser Permanente's newborn nursery in Walnut Creek and also volunteered during elections at her neighborhood polling precinct.

She is survived by her loving children: Jerry (Janie) Philips, Susie (Kenny) Bolton and Patty (Gary) Griffith; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings: Mary Cairnes, Margaret Schamale and Leo Minkel. She was predeceased by her sister, Lois Long.

Friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, at Duggan's Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma. Memorial donations in Maxine's honor can be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements under the direction of Duggan's Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service, Sonoma.

 

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