Maxine H. Skelton, age 98, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at Summer Vista Assisted Living Community.

She was born in Kernersville, NC on September 1, 1924, to the late Charles Hepler and Pearl Hendrix Hepler and has resided in Pensacola, FL for the past 80 years. Maxine graduated from Kernersville High School in 1941. In high school she played varsity basketball and was crowned Miss Kernersville before moving to Pensacola. Maxine met and married Joe Skelton and their son, Jody, was born in 1947. She and Joe loved to dance, and they frequented the social events at the old Casino Beach Club and other popular dance venues. Maxine had a successful career working for over thirty years as a supervisor in the Escambia County Clerk's office. She had a great love for dogs and for their Pensacola Beach house on Santa Rosa Sound. She loved entertaining family and friends at the beach house with fish frys, boating, fishing, water skiing, swimming, sun-bathing, and crabbing. One of her greatest joys at the beach was frolicking and swimming with her grandchildren.

She was a devoted mother and grandmother. In the summer she volunteered with the Vacation Bible School at East Hill Baptist Church where she was a long-time member. She served as a Den Mother for Jody's Cub Scout troop in addition to being active with his school's PTA. Maxine and Joe were their son's biggest supporters during the years Jody played basketball in high school and college. They never missed a home game and traveled throughout Florida and the entire Southeast to attend away games. Maxine was one of Walt Disney World's biggest fans and she never ceased to delight in taking her grandchildren there through the years. She was always available to support their dance recitals and their youth and high school baseball and soccer games.

Maxine had been a resident at the Summer Vista Assisted Living Community since 2016. She participated in bingo, afternoon socials, and her favorite activity - day trips to Wind Creek Casino to play the slots. In 2021, Maxine was voted runner-up to Mrs. Summer Vista. Later that year she was crowned the Summer Vista Homecoming Queen.

In addition to her parents, Maxine is preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years, Joseph F. Skelton, and her brother, Kenneth Hepler.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Jody Skelton (Lori); granddaughter, Dionne Skelton Kohl (Kevin); grandson, Charlie Skelton (Alli); and great grandchildren, Keaton Kohl, Cortland Kohl, and Smith Skelton; as well as many special nieces and cousins.

Active Pallbearers are Tommy Lee, Gary Cushing, Scott Ward, Judge Nick Geeker, Tommy Van Matre, and Don Slayton.

Honorary Pallbearers are Adam Guess, Jake Hammond, and Jerry Glenn.

The family would like to thank Dr. Anita Westafer and Renea Cloudsley and their staffs, Summer Vista Assisted Living Community staff and friends, and Regency Hospice nurses and staff for their loving care.

A service to honor the life of Maxine Skelton will be held 10:00am Saturday, September 17, 2022, at Trinity Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Hugh Hamilton and the Rev. Ashley Wilkinson Meyer officiating. A reception will follow after the service. Live streaming will be available, at the following link: https://youtu.be/SQXRyFkvAcY

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pensacola United Ministries, P.O. Box 9255, Pensacola, FL 32503; Regency Hospice, 50 Beverly Parkway, Suite 200, Pensacola, FL 32505; or a favorite charity.