Maxine Kerns

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Mrs. Gracie “Maxine” Kerns, 97, passed away Friday, March 10, 2023, at the Journey Home in Bartlesville, OK. She was the widow of the late Howard Kerns, a native of Missouri. Gracie Maxine was born on October 27, 1925 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, to the late Ralph Noble Smith and Martha Della (Palmer) Smith. She grew up and received her education outside of Hominy, Oklahoma, Middle Enterprise School.

She married Raymond Gaines, and they had one daughter Kathy. Raymond contracted tuberculosis while in the Army and died in 1950 at the age of twenty-seven. 

 Prior to that their daughter Kathy contracted Meningitis and died in 1949 at the age of thirteen months. Maxine later married the late Howard Kerns in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1960. The couple moved to California and later to Noel, Missouri, where they bought a farm. Maxine worked for Shiloh Farms for many years and Howard was a massage therapist and had an office practice at the farm.

Maxine and Howard made the most of their farm. They had walnut and pecan trees and sold the nuts, raised cows and sold milk, raised chickens and sold eggs and had a garden and canned vegetables. They were frugal and saved their money but at the same time they were very generous. They donated to the community on a regular basis.

After Howard’s declining health, they sold their beloved farm and moved to Southwest City, Missouri. They resided there until after Howard’s death in 1997. Maxine then moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma to live closer to family until her passing.

Throughout Maxine’s life she always kept her faith in her Savior and Lord while facing her hardships. She continued onward through life with dignity and fortitude, a testament of a true Christian.

She was preceded in death by her late husbands; Howard Kern and Raymond Gaines and her daughter Kathy Gaines; parents, Ralph and Della Smith and three sisters Nadine Webb, Wanda Harness, and Norma Gee and three brothers, John, Verdie and Ralph Smith.

Maxine is survived by her brother Kenneth Smith and several nieces and nephews.