Maxine (Bracey) Searle, 88, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2022 in her home after a long illness. She was preceded in death by Gary (husband of 66 years who she met on a blind date when he was stationed at Fort Campbell Army Base in Kentucky!), parents (Turner and Lula Mae Bracey), brothers (Jerome, Donald, and Kermit Bracey), brothers-in-law (James Biggers and Elvin Raymer), and sisters-in-law (Edna Bracey, Iva Mae Bracey, Ruby Bracey, and Peggy Bracey).  She is survived by her children, Mike (Sandee) and Mary Ann Searle, along with her brother (Verner Bracey), sisters (Dorothy Biggers and Laverne Raymer), several Bracey and Searle cousins, and four generations of nieces and nephews.

Maxine was a "Christmas baby" born on December 25, 1933 in Pleasant View, Tennessee. As a young girl, she worked hard on the family farm and in her Dad's grocery story.  After playing on the women's basketball team and graduating from Ashland City High School, she went to work for the Telephone Company where she worked in multiple offices throughout Wisconsin and Tennessee.  In 1988, she received the "Eagle Award for Excellent service."  In 1995, she retired from "Ma Bell" after 40 years of service.  Maxine's best memories were the friends she made at the telephone company, including a group of "Trip Chicks" with whom she traveled after retirement.  Two of the "highlights" of her life were going to "The Today Show" in New York City and "The Oprah Show" on "Women's Friendship Day" in Chicago with the Trip Chicks. In 1996, she and Gary retired to Palm City to be near Mike and Sandee.  After getting their retirement home decorated, she was ready to "do something else," so she helped Mike start his insurance agency. For 7 ½ years, she sold insurance and often said "Working for Mike was the best job I ever had!" She loved helping him become a successful business owner!

As a young family, Gary and Maxine took Mike and Mary Ann on family "road trips" throughout the United States.  In 1984, they started international traveling. With family and friends, Maxine traveled to all 50 U.S. states and over 80 countries. She loved cruising and enjoyed 50+ ocean and river cruises to many places around the world!  Maxine's last two domestic trips were "Girls' Trips" to "The Outer Banks" to spend time with her sister, Dot and family (2019) and Nashville to spend time with her sister, Laverne and family (2019).  Her last two international trips were a cruise to Cuba (2018) and a land tour to Israel (2017).

In addition to traveling, Gary and Maxine made a hobby out of buying, decorating, landscaping, living in, and selling 18 homes.  Friends often said Maxine missed her "calling" to be an interior decorator!  In her free time, she enjoyed sewing and making draperies; cooking for and entertaining people in her homes; playing bridge; boating on the St. Lucie River; attending car shows with the Treasure Coast Classic Chevy Club ; dining out and attending plays; shopping with "The Girls;" being a member of Coastal Life Church; listening to traditional Christian hymns, Classic Country, and 50s/60s rock and roll music; and spending quality time with her family and friends.

When she passed, friends and family described Maxine as a "Southern Belle" who was beautiful, caring, compassionate, fun, kind, loving, optimistic, special, strong, and sweet.  The family has planned a Memorial Service at Coastal Life Church in Palm City, Florida on Saturday, January 15 at 11:30 a.m. with a lunch following at Manero's Restaurant.  R.S.V.P.s for lunch are kindly requested by texting Sandy Clark at (772) 219-2600 or via email at sandsclark@hotmail.com by Wednesday, January 12, 2022 .  In lieu of flowers, the family encourages friends and family to support a charity of their choice or send a designated gift to:  Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation , F/B/O:  Music Therapy Department , 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, Florida.