Marie Anne Luke Thaxton

Marie Anne Luke Thaxton of Elkhart passed away on Aug. 31, 2024, six days short of her 101st birthday.

Marie was born on Sept. 6, 1923, to Daisy Waltman and Thomas Luke in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. She attended Pleasant Grove Elementary School and Wisconsin Dells High School, graduating in 1941.

After graduation, she worked for Badger Ordnance Works in Baraboo, Wisconsin, making ammunition for the U.S. military during World War II.

Marie married Harold Thaxton in 1946, and they resided at the military base in California. They later moved to Elkhart, Indiana, where Harold worked at Bendix for 38 years. He passed away in 1995.

Marie was an office manager and bookkeeper for Earthway Products in Bristol, Indiana, retiring in 1983. Three brothers, Daniel, Roy and Tom Luke; a sister, Florence; one child, Nancy Thaxton; and a grandchild, Michael David Halsey, preceded her in death.

Marie was the matriarch of her family for decades. She was the rock and the glue and the foundation for all around her. She was a source of comfort and strength for five generations. No amount of time will reduce the hole left by her absence. Her memory will live in the hearts of those who met her briefly and those who needed her their whole lives. The world has lost another beautiful soul.

Survivors include her daughter, Lynne (Butch) Lee of Elkhart, Indiana, and Harold (Jan) Thaxton of Mechanicsville, Virginia. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Theresa DeFord, Rhonda (Mark) Francis, Pam (Scott) Harman, Stacey (Kevin) Rouch and Tony Thaxton; nine great-grandchildren: Nikki Price, Carmen Halsey, Michael DeFord, Russell DeFord, Sam Harman, Haley DeFord, Alec Harman, Marcus Francis and Zoey Rouch; and five great-great-grandchildren: Braxton, Mika, Luis, Aurora and Sedona.

Marie loved her family and the times they spent together. She enjoyed planting flowers, listening to all kinds of music, dancing and playing euchre. She was a caregiver, a prayer warrior, and the greatest blessing to her entire family.

She attended New Hope United Methodist Church.