MIDDLETON, Maybelle Lillian

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ Posted: Friday, December 6, 2013 - Maybelle “Mommanie” Lillian Bennington Middleton, 93, died Nov. 23, 2013 in Lake Havasu City. She was born Dec. 7, 1919, in Manhattan, Kan., to George and Goldie Mae Harrison Bennington. Maybelle married Charles Richard Middleton Aug. 25, 1935, in Clay Center, Kan., when she was 15 and he was 19. She always said, “the minister married us so that Chuck wouldn’t marry his daughter.” She lived in Lake Havasu City for 12 years. Prior to that, she retired in Sacramento, Calif., where she lived for 20 years. She was raised in Clay Center, Kan., on a farm. They enjoyed being able to travel when they first got married and had a very nice life while raising their family. Maybelle was a licensed cosmetologist in six states and had a variety of careers. She owned the Forum Café in Oklahoma City and later, the Stockyard restaurant in Phoenix. The majority of Chuck and Maybelle’s careers were with the Clement Stone Insurance Co., of Chicago. On Dec. 13, 1963, Maybelle was one of the top four sales people for the company. Prestige at Claremont became Chuck and Maybelle’s home in 2010, where she became known as the “Candy Lady.” She enjoyed playing bingo, and watching television. She also loved to visit family, friends, local children and dogs. Maybelle became the matriarch of Prestige and will be missed by all. Maybelle is survived by her son, John Richard Middleton; granddaughters, Shawn Middleton McBride, of Lake Havasu City, and Lillian Arbenz, of Palm Desert, Calif.; four grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren, along with many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Charles Middleton; brothers, Clifford and Charles; sister, Mary Jo ‘Jody”; and grandson, Chuck. A celebration of Maybelle’s life will be at Prestige of Claremont, 1221 Claremont Dr., on what would have been her 94th birthday, Saturday, at 11 a.m. Thoughts and condolences can be sent directly to the family or through www.lakehavasumortuary.com. Arrangements are under the care of Lake Havasu Mortuary and Crematory, 2225 N. Kiowa Blvd