TWITTY, Maxine Willie

Maxine Willie Hendry Twitty, 86, Chandler, AZ, died April 13, 2005, of complications from heart surgery. She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Maud Hendry of Wellsville, UT, two brothers and three sisters. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, William M. (Bill) Twitty; her son, Mike Twitty (Bobby), St. George, UT; and daughters, Nanci Wudel (John), Mesa, and Becky Woods (Tommy), Chandler; and by her sister, Sara Phippen, Logan, UT; and many nieces and nephews, including Barbara Haines, of Logan. Maxine's treasures were her 10 grandchildren and spouses: Brandon Woods (Nanouka), Blake Woods, Tricia Baird (Bret), Robyn Rickeberg (Jason), David Wudel (Amy), Johny Wudel (Corinne), Chris Twitty (Tandy), Casey Twitty (Amy), Chad Twitty and Courtney Twitty. She also adored her 16 great-grandchildren. Maxine was born in Wellsville, UT, Nov. 8, 1918, on the family farm; her great-grandfather was James G. Willie, Captain of the Willie Handcart Company. Maxine attended business college; was as an executive secretary in Logan; and worked for the FBI in Salt Lake City before marrying her husband, Bill, a career U.S. Army officer. She traveled throughout the United States and abroad with her husband and children and enjoyed living in Okinawa and Caracas, Venezuela. She worked for U.S. Civil Service for 25 years, serving as Chief Protocol Officer for 17 years at White Sands Missile Range, NM. During that time, she received a personal commendation from Colin Powell, as well as the U.S. Army's prestigious Commander's Award for Civilian Service. Active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Maxine served for 20 years with her husband in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Her life exemplified constant service to others, and she was known for her famous coconut bread. She was a shining example of hard work, charity and selflessness, and her family was her greatest joy in life. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 23, at 2:00 p.m., with viewing at 1:00 p.m., at the Mesquite Stake Center, 2252 W. Mesquite St., Chandler, AZ. Visitation will be Friday, April 22, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Bunker's Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ. A grave side service and interment will be April 25, at 1:00 p.m., at the Wellsville City Cemetery, Wellsville, Utah.