Maxine Mae McCauley Sear

Maxine Mae McCauley Sear was born August 17, 1936 in American

Falls, Idaho to Lyle and Grace McCauley. She was the 2nd of four

daughters.

August 17, 1936 - January 24, 2011

Maxine Mae McCauley Sear was born August 17, 1936 in American Falls, Idaho to Lyle and Grace McCauley. She was the 2nd of four daughters.

Mom spoke fondly of her childhood, often saying that she never really realized how poor they were because everyone around them was, too. She spent days playing with her sisters and her cousins. The four sisters developed close bonds with each other that they continued to enjoy throughout their adult lives. She enjoyed school as well. English was her favorite subject. The first house that Mom could remember was a log cabin with an outhouse "out back". Her father was a logger, a truck driver and then a beekeeper, so they moved around several times when she was young, finally settling in Colton California where she attended and graduated from Colton High School in 1954. Her family attended the Colton Ward where she was destined to meet her future sweetheart, Thomas R. Sear. Although extremely shy, Tom somehow managed to ask Maxine to the Junior Prom. During their senior year, Tom was asked to serve as the president of his seminary class. Tom asked to have Maxine as his secretary to make sure that they could spend a lot of time together. They fell in love.

After graduation, Mom went to work in the typing pool at Norton Air Force Base and Tom joined the Air Force and headed down to Lockland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. While there, Tom realized that he didn't want to take the risk of losing his high school sweetheart so he headed back to California after basic training to ask Maxine to marry him. She must have said 'yes' because Tom left money with his mother to buy an engagement ring. Mom received her engagement ring from her future mother-in-law in the middle of a church meeting. To say Mom was surprised would be an understatement. Tom caught flack for that 'unromantic' moment and spent the rest of their married life buying Mom beautiful jewelry to make up for the faux paux. They were married December 27, 1954 and later sealed for time and all eternity in the Meza, Arizona temple. They moved to Denver, Colorado where Tom continued in the Air Force and Mom learned how to be a wife. While living in Aurora they were blessed with their first child, Danita Robin. Upon discharge Tom and Maxine moved back to Colton, California where two more children soon followed; Michael Ray and Tamara Jean.

Maxine was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was always very thankful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in her life. She took her children to church every Sunday and tried to teach them to follow in Christ's footsteps. She taught her children and others as well as she served in the church in a variety of church callings. She was the best Primary chorister and the children loved her creative visual aids that she made to help the children learn songs about home, family, the Savoir, and living the gospel. She taught young women and ran herd over rowdy cub scouts, served as Primary president, as Young Women's President and as Relief Society president. She especially loved serving in the Relief Society and enjoyed the friendship and fellowship she found there.

While living in Pomona, California, Mom starting taking care of foster babies. She lovingly took care of a dozen different babies for 10 years, getting quite attached to two special babies that she took care of for almost 2 years. Her young family enjoyed hiking the many trails on Mount Baldy, trips to the beach, Disneyland, the Planetarium, visits to the grandparents and picnics in the park with Mom after swimming lessons.

In August 1971 the family moved to Moses Lake and Maxine discovered two new loves; canning and quilting. Some of Mom's favorite things to do were sewing pretty dresses for her daughters and granddaughters, creating beautiful quilts, canning, reading, having her grandchildren visit, decorating for each holiday, hiding Easter eggs, singing with the singing mothers, crafts of all kinds, knitting, crochet, embroidery and collecting massive amounts of material for her 'quilting stash'.

Mom worked at the PUD, and in Chiropractic, Dental and Physical Therapy offices in Moses Lake as a receptionist and was known for her cheery smile and efficient work. She enjoyed membership in different community clubs; Toastmistresses, Columbia Basin Quilt Club and Pickled Persian Book Club. She also donated many hours to the Grant Co. Fair Quilt building.

Maxine is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Thomas Sear; father, Lyle McCauley: mother, Grace Rigby McCauley: and sister, Arlene Bemis. She is survived by 3 children; Danita Sear Jones of Moses Lake, WA, Mike and Dana Sear of Kansas City, KS and Dave and Tami Sear Lybbert of Moses Lake, WA.; two sisters, Norma Scalise of Tujunga, CA and Barbara Barnett of Bountiful, UT; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held under the direction of Bishop Ryan Tolley on Friday, February 4, 2011 at 10:00 am at the L.D.S. Stake Center, 1515 S. Division, Moses Lake, WA, with interment at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery located in Medical Lake, WA. To those who would like to honor Maxine the family would ask that you make a donation to the American Diabetes Association.

Some people make the world more beautiful just by being there - Good-bye, Mom.