Fontella Maxine Roland Fowler

Fontella Maxine Roland Fowler, 88, loving mother and wife, passed away Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004. Maxine was born Oct. 16, 1915, near Jerico Springs, Mo., to Robert Lee and Maida Lizzie Bratton.

At an early age she became a Christian and was a member of the Jerico Springs Christian Church. She attended and graduated from the Jerico Springs High School.

She married Charley Jackson Roland on Feb. 4, 1939, in Nevada, Mo. He died in January 1962. They reared their family on their farm east of Sheldon, Mo. Later Maxine worked at the Nellie Don Dress Factory in Nevada.

She married Willis H. Fowler, a Christian minister, on July 2, 1964, at Jerico Springs, Mo. He died in December 2002. Maxine served with Willis in his ministries in the four state area.

She is survived by one son, Larry J. Roland and his wife Sheila, Lamar, Mo.; two grandchildren, Eva Maddock, Plano, Texas, and Curt Roland, Lamar, Mo.; and five great-grandchildren, Kelli and Ashley Maddock, and Kailey, Kenna and Kip Roland.

She is survived by a daughter, Janice Kay Hatfield, Carthage, Mo.; two granddaughters, Dana Carver, Carthage, Mo., and Elizabeth Armstrong, Joplin, Mo.; three great-grandchildren, Jessica Carver, Cameron Adams and Dillion Armstrong, and three step-great-grandchildren, Savannah, Charlee and Shelby Carver.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Bradley Scott Armstrong.

Maxine was preceded in death by six brothers, Eveard, Arvard, Duard, Richard, Harland and Roy Bratton; and two sisters, Nadine Cross and Alyeen Thomas.

Also surviving are two stepchildren, Harold Fowler, Matelica, Italy and Alice Marilyn Wilkins, St. Pauls, N.C., 12 step-grandchildren, and numerous step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m., at the Sheldon Christian Church, Sheldon, Mo., with the Rev. Harold Fowler officiating. Burial will be in Lake Cemetery, Lamar, Mo. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., Thursday, at church. Friends may call Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m., to 7 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Beeny-Ferry Funeral Home, Sheldon, Mo.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sheldon Christian Church in care of the church or Beeny-Ferry Funeral Home.