Crider - McDowell Family Tree

Obituary from Springfield News-Leader (19 Feb 2006)

Maxine McDowell Tacke went peacefully to be with our Lord on Friday, February 17, 2006. She was born March 14, 1920, at Fruitland, Mo., in Cape Girardeau County, to Effie Noland and Eli E. McDowell. She attended elementary and high school in Fruitland, graduating from Fruitland High School in 1936. She continued her education at Southeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Southeast Missouri State University) graduating in 1940 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Upon graduation from college, she taught at Franklin School in Cape Girardeau for four years. She was united in marriage to Glenn Hadley Tacke on May 23, 1942, and they lived in Cape Girardeau until they moved to Springfield in 1945. Maxine taught for a total of 41 years. She was a dedicated teacher serving 10 years as a teacher at Grace Methodist Church Kindergarten and 27 years at Kingswood Kindergarten and PreSchool at King's Way United Methodist Church. She retired from King's Way in May 1991. She was an active member of the Methodist Church which she joined at an early age. She was formerly a member of Grace Methodist Church. She had been a member of King's Way United Methodist Church since 1964. She had served in many capacities in the Methodist Church, including The Administrative Board, the Education Committee, The United Methodist Women, the Homebuilders Sunday School Class and she taught in the Education Department and Vacation Bible School for many years. Maxine and Glenn were active workers with the Boy Scouts of America. They were able to see both of their sons attain the rank of Eagle Scout. She had a great capacity for loving and understanding children. She decided at an early age that she was going to be a teacher. She considered her students and their parents as part of her extended family and she kept up with their accomplishments. She was a devoted wife to Glenn, who preceded her in death in September, 1995. She was also a devoted mother to two sons, Stephen and James; grandmother to three grandsons, Bart and Sam Tacke of Springfield, and Caleb Tacke of Dallas, Texas; two granddaughters, Sasha Lively of Springfield, Paige Meyer of San Diego; and one greatgrandson, Meyer Lively. Next to loving people, she loved cooking, gardening and flowers. She never lacked for energy and was always busy. She served as a volunteer in the Springfield Public Schools, her church, as a Den Mother of the Cub Scouts, the Kid's Cafe and many other activities. One of her favorite programs that she supported was "The Parent's as Teachers" program. Maxine compared her philosophy of teaching to that of a gardener caring for his garden. She nourished and encouraged the children as they grew. Her students were a treat to teach and joy to love. She felt that it was up to her to help them become the best that they could be. According to Maxine, teaching was the most rewarding profession in the world. "You never get rich moneywise, but the love you receive from the children and their parents make it all worthwhile." She considered herself richly blest with their love. Her students were "diamonds being prepared for a setting." In addition to her husband, Glenn, Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers and three sisters. She is survived by two sons, Stephen P. Tacke and wife, Kelly, of Dallas, Texas, and James W. Tacke and wife, Debra, of Nixa, Mo.; three grandsons, Bart Tacke of St. Louis, Sam Tacke of Boulder, Colo., and Caleb Tacke of Dallas, Texas; and two granddaughters, Sasha Meyer Lively of Springfield, Paige Meyer of San Diego, Calif.; and one great-grandson, Meyer Lively. She is also survived by her loving caregivers, Marcia, Barbara and Keeta, five sisters-in-law and 25 nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2006, in King's Way United Methodist with the Reverends Gene Atkins and Charles Buck officiating, under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Springfield Foundation for Early Childhood Education Programs, 237 S. Florence, Springfield, MO 65806, the Kid's Cafe, the King's Way Church Library, Community Hospices of Southwest Missouri, or to the charity of your choice.