Maxine Hafen Spencer

MAXINE HAFEN SPENCER Our beloved Maxie, Mom, Grami -- Maxine Hafen Spencer, 90 years young, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, at home with family by her side. Maxine was born Oct. 12, 1918, in Santa Clara, Utah, to Leland and Elsie Frei Hafen. She was the first and only daughter of five children and knew that she was the "apple of her Dad's eye." Having grown up in St. George, Maxine loved to tell people, "From the time I started school, all I had to do was walk across the street and go no more than one block from elementary school through college." She was graduated from Dixie Junior College with an associate degree in science and then attended LDS Business College in Salt Lake City. Maxine married the love of her life, Darrell Phil Spencer, June 10, 1939, at her family home in St. George. Later their marriage was sealed in the St. George Temple. Phil and Maxine moved to Huntington Park, Calif., where Phil attended night school, then back to St. George for a few years and finally settled in Las Vegas, for over 40 years. In 1996, Maxine returned to St. George and told her friends, "People say you can't go home again, but I've proved that you can!" Maxine used her business skills in many capacities, working side by side with Phil in their different businesses. She was secretary, bookkeeper and owner/manager, but loved most of all working one-on-one with the customers. Above all, Maxine's greatest love was her family -- being a wife, mother and homemaker. Her testimony to her family includes this advice: "Remember, whom you love, and who loves you, is what really matters." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints played a huge part in Phil and Maxine's life together. She served as a teacher in all the different organizations, Ward Relief Society President, Stake Relief Society Counselor, and the unofficial calling of bishop's wife. She loved working in both the Las Vegas and St. George Temples. Maxine is survived by her children, Barbara Lynne (Gerald) Prince of Worthington, Ohio, Darrell (Kate) Spencer of Athens, Ohio, and Christine Lee (Kenneth) Byrd of St. George, Utah; grandchildren, include Kort C. Prince, Kami Nicole Prince, Spencer C. Byrd and Kennedy Anne Byrd; great-grandson, Atticus Jacob Bradford; brothers, Richard Lee (Marti) Hafen of Las Vegas, and Stanley (Carol) Hafen of St. George. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Clark and Keith; and husband. There will be a viewing from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, with service following, both at St. James Chapel, 1095 E. St. James Lane. Graveside service will follow at the St. George Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Coach Lee Hafen Scholarship Endowment at Dixie State College of Utah, Athletic Department, 225 South 700 East, St. George, UT, 84770. Special thanks to Dr. Jerold Hagen, Colby Peterson, P.A., from Heart of Dixie, Southern Utah Hospice, and A Gentle Touch Home Care Agency. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George, UT, (435) 673-2454. Friends may sign the guestbook at www.spilsburymortuary.com.