Mirta "Maxine" McGruder

Mirta "Maxine" McGruder, of Springfield, MO, went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by her family in her home on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Maxine was 90 years old. Born at home, in Republic, MO, to Frank and Mirta (Mooneyham) Butler, on January 17, 1935, Maxine was the youngest of four children.
She graduated from Republic High School with the class of 1952. Maxine went on to attend Draughons' Business School. On August 05, 1960, Maxine married Ken McGruder, and this union was blessed with two children, Brent and Gail. Maxine loved being a mother; she attended all of Brent and Gail's events, rehearsals, and tournaments. If the kids were there, so was Maxine. She would volunteer anytime the school needed help, often traveling as a parent sponsor for the events. This carried on to her grandchildren and even her great-grandchildren, attending music concerts, grandparent days, and even 2 High School state football championships. Maxine's love for sports started at a young age. In 1984, Maxine became a season ticket holder for the MSU Bears Men's Basketball team, traveling to games, home and away, including both national and international tournaments. She has done this for the past 41 years. Her love for MSU sports did not stop with the men's basketball; in 1991, she became a season ticket holder for the Lady Bears as well. Then, she added MSU football, volleyball, softball, and soccer games to her list.
Maxine may have been a super fan of MSU, but her ultimate joy came from her family, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Maxine cherished family time, taking them to the zoo, on day trips to the Discovery Center, and even holding "Gran Camp". Family and Jesus, that is what Maxine cherished. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior when she was just 8 years old. She is a lifetime member of Hopewell Baptist Church in Republic and has faithfully attended services there since she was a young girl.
Maxine spent much time traveling, taking numerous trips with family and friends both nationally and internationally, having been to Europe, Canada, Costa Rico, and much of the United States, which she loved so much.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Mirta Butler, and her siblings, Wayne Butler, Ray Butler, and Jewell Wimmer, nephews Jeff Carr, David Treat and Kevin Butler and a niece Janet (Butler) Sanders.
Maxine is survived by her children, Brent (Monica) McGruder, and Gail (Lane) Shumaker, 6 grandchildren, Pate (Valerie) Shumaker, Trevor (Ashley) Shumaker, Leigh McGruder, Audra (Connor) Martz, Trey McGruder, and Ruby McGruder, 7 great-grandchildren, Silas Shumaker, Porter Shumaker, Liam Shumaker, Truman Shumaker, Callahan Shumaker, Benjamin Martz and Wilson Martz, step grandchildren Alexandra (Erich) Godsey and Ridgeway (Madison) Fletcher as well as other extended family and countless friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to GetREAL (www.getrealu.org or 13015 S 14th St, Fort Smith, AR. 72901) or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate). A visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 02, 2025, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Meadors Funeral in Republic. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 03, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Meadors Funeral Home. Maxine will be laid to rest beside her parents in Wade Chapel Cemetery.