Maxine Singletary

Maxine Singletary, 79, died Tuesday, September 14, 2010, in Wenatchee, WA, of complications from Alzheimer's and heart disease. She moved from Seattle to Highgate House in Wenatchee in May of 2009. After 13 months of enjoying the community there, Maxine suffered a fall, which necessitated a move to Highline Care Center in East Wenatchee, where she received excellent care for three months, but her health was not to be revived and she spent her final moments in the home of her son in Wenatchee. Maxine Myra Hamilton was born November 26, 1930, to Chester A. and Myra (Livingston) Hamilton in Bowman, SD. The family moved in the late 1930's to a ranch in the Black Hills of Wyoming, near Osage. The four children attended a country school through the eighth grade. Maxine graduated from Newcastle (WY) high School in 1948, and Black Hills State Teacher's College (now Black Hills State University) with a BS in Education in 1952. She met and married fellow student, Richard Singletary of Sanford, FL in 1951; three children were born of this union. After earning her Master's degree at the University of Colorado, Maxine started her teaching career at West Seattle High School in 1960. She was a member of the faculty in the inaugural year (1964) of Newport High School in Bellevue and concluded her high school teaching in the mid-1980's, at Bellevue High School. She then moved on to a second career in Real Estate, retiring in the late 1990's from the ReMax office at Northgate in Seattle. Never a fan of idleness, she then worked part-time as a tutor at The Loft at North Seattle Community College, until health issues forced her retirement in February 2009. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Cleo Renee Singletary (1999) to cancer; and siblings, Lyle Hamilton and Virginia Lissolo. She is survived by her brother, Merle Hamilton of Hyattville, WY; sons, Robin (wife, Budd) Singletary of Wenatchee and Dirk (Sharon) Singletary of Edmonds, WA; grandchildren, Meghann Singletary of Dallas, TX and Ryan (Annie) Singletary of Issaquah, WA; along with great-grandsons, James and William. Maxine was a person whose great strength of character was concealed by an unassuming air and quiet dignity. Throughout her life, she spent no time bemoaning her fate, but focused instead upon making the best of her situation, whatever it was. Her passing leaves a sadness in the hearts of her family and many friends, but we are happy that she suffers no more. A Celebration of Maxine's Life will be held Saturday, October 16, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., at the University Unitarian Church in Seattle, WA, with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in her name to the Alzheimer's Foundation so that one day we may be rid of this terrible disease.

Maxine Singletary

November 26, 1930 - September 14, 2010