Maxine Marian Watts

Maxine Marian Watts, 94, of Lawton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, July 16, 2025, at her daughter’s home in Richland.

She was born November 22, 1930, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the daughter of Leslie Hayward and Irene (Andrews) Hayward.

Maxine graduated from Western Michigan University in 1953 with her B. S. in Elementary Education. She taught second grade for 17 years at Level Park Schools and Lakeview Schools in Battle Creek. She adored all of the children she taught. She was a dedicated member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Lawton. In her free time, Maxine enjoyed spending time with family and friends, cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, knitting, tatting and reading. She always had a smile and her laughs were infectious. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, whom she loved and cherished deeply.

She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Sean) Gray and Sandy Bowers; sons, Bill and Bob Watts; grandchildren, Russell (Morgan) Gray, Craig Gray, William Watts, Alicia (Jared) Stephan, Samantha (Justin) Heidman, Rachel Watts, Matthew (Amanda) Watts, Michael (Kari) Barnes, Ashley (Paul) Ledesma, Brittney Bowers, Brandon Bowers; and her newest of many great-grandchildren, Finnegan (with whom she only had a few precious months).

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Charles W. Watts on September 2, 1990, stepsister, Clarine Rose and stepbrother, Al Hunter.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home, 502 W. Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw. A funeral service will commence at 1:00. Cremation will follow. Maxine will be laid to rest next to her husband at Oak Grove Cemetery in Lawton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The Alzheimer's Association, The SPCA of Southwest Michigan or Richland Animal Rescue.