of Little Rock, AR

July 28, 1933 - July 14, 2023

Maxine L. Kizer, 89, of Little Rock, parted this life on Friday, July 14, 2023 after complications from a fall. She was born July 28, 1933, in Collins, Arkansas, to the late John Hall and Scottie Mae (McNeese) Lang. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John W. Kizer, who died January 10, 2006. She is survived by her daughter, Lana Strickland and son-in-law, Keith; her son, Eric Kizer and partner Pablo Rodriguez; grandsons, Jonathan and Will; cousin, Mary Ann Poling; and niece Betty Jane Trombatore.

Mrs. Kizer will lie in state on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Roller-Drummond Funeral Home, from 1:00pm until 8:00pm. Graveside service will be 11:00am Friday, July 21, 2023, at Pinecrest Memorial Park, with visitation to follow from 11:30am until 2:00pm in the Reunion Room at Pinecrest. To honor Maxine's love of children, memorials can be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Children's Ministries, 501 N Shackleford Rd., Little Rock, AR 72211 or Arkansas Baptist Children & Family Ministries. arkansasfamilies.org

Maxine was the fourth child of a very poor, farm family. Her siblings were adults when she was born. She always felt loved by her mother but love was not something her father could do easily, especially with only a daughter to help around the farm. Maxine was born by the African American midwife because the local doctor apparently was drunk. Her father paid the midwife a chicken for delivering Maxine.

Growing up on a small farm with no nearby friends or siblings, Maxine had to be creative. She made dresses from feed sacks for her dogs. She cut tin cans to look like fingernails and glued them on to have "movie star" nails. She literally, rode her bicycle 2 miles one way down a dirt road to the highway to catch the bus to school miles away.

At 16 years old, she fell in love with an older, handsome WWII army man. She married John Kizer one year later. John wanted to use his GI benefits for college. Maxine, as a married woman was not allowed to attend high school, so she was a high school dropout. She wanted to go to college and she was allowed to take the college entrance exam that returning WWII vets took to go to college. Maxine did well on the exam though she never finished the 11th and 12th grades.

John studied math and physics and Maxine elementary education. Mom used Dad's books to save money. At 19 years old and half of college degree credits, Maxine taught 40+ elementary students. After that year, she returned to finish her degree at Arkansas A&M College.

The young couple and their Bachelor's degrees headed to Colorado for adventure and better teacher salaries. John and Maxine traveled all over Colorado and the southwest US. John had an Argus 35mm camera and took hundreds of photos of Maxine standing by a mountain or gorge with their black and white 1955 Buick.

John learned he did not enjoy teaching and secured a job as a fine cabinet carpenter for a new mid-century modern subdivision in Denver. Maxine and John welcomed me (Lana) in 1957. About 18 months later, Dad wanted to pursue his civil engineering degree. Maxine and John moved to Fayetteville and John attended University of Arkansas and Maxine taught 1st graders at Washington Elementary. One Easter season, the children decorated milk cartons as Easter baskets and Maxine presented each child with a real baby chick. One child was allergic and returned the chick to Maxine. The chicken lived out his life on her parents' farm and eventually a stewing pot!

After John completed his civil engineer degree, we moved to Little Rock and John worked for the Arkansas Highway Department. Maxine taught 1st grade at Meadowcliff Elementary several years in the early 1960s and then was a stay-at-home Mom for Eric. In the 1975, Maxine returned to teach at Trinity Episcopal School. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching and being able to pray, discuss the Bible and teach 1st graders how to read. Maxine made an impact on hundreds of children. She retired in 1992.

Maxine was a loving, compassionate person. She cared for her father with lung cancer and an aunt with cancer until their deaths. The aunt with cancer was also caring for a family friend. After the aunt died, Maxine moved the friend to Little Rock and cared for him in a facility for years until his death. Maxine was the ultimate care giver for my dad, John. She lovingly cared for him about 20 years, throughout the ups and downs of his cardiac condition.

Maxine was a wonderful mother. Eric and I always had unique birthday cakes and celebrations. As a child, Maxine said she only received an orange one Christmas and a strand of tinsel another. So, Mom always made Christmas over the top! Lots of decorations and gifts. Maxine was a scout leader. She made elaborate costumes for whatever was needed. She chauffeured us around in an Oldsmobile station wagon with the wood grained panels to church, piano lessons, dance lessons, athletic events and friends' houses. And always managed time to feed us!

Maxine was a faithful, praying, believing Christian. She wanted to make sure Eric and I and her grandsons knew the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus. She was a role model for us and others in her Christian walk. John and Maxine attended Geyer Springs First Baptist Church from the early 1960s. She started attending Immanuel Baptist when she no longer felt confident driving. Maxine met a whole new group of dear friends and was active in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, XYZ, and her "Little Old Ladies" Sunday School Class. When her health declined, she still contributed to ministries by making teddy bears from State Trooper uniforms to be given to children involved in accidents. She made 50+ girls dresses and boys shorts that were sent to an orphanage in Haiti. Maxine faithfully continued her Bible Study even though she was unable to attend church.

Maxine was a wonderful grandmother. She allowed her grandsons to eat as much Halloween candy as they wanted. The boys enjoyed "arts and crafts" such as making paper mache figures or pinatas. Mama Ki as the grandsons called her, made all sorts of dress up clothes such as cowboys and Indians, soldiers, and superhero costumes. She made stick horses with fluffy yarn manes and tails and camo painted rifles cut from 2x4s. The "teacher" grandmother taught a struggling grandson to read and he is an avid reader today. Maxine was so proud of her grandsons as they have grown into responsible young men.

Some other little-known things about Maxine. Maxine could

*take "nothing" and make something beautiful or useful
*drive a 1/2 ton surplus military truck John brought home to make some extra money
*water ski even though she couldn't really swim
*cook fried chicken, potato salad and a cake and be at the lake by 2:00 with the boat after Sunday School and church
*lay 1000 sq ft of tile flooring at the deer camp
*get lost driving a party barge at night on Lake Ouachita and spend the night by herself in a cove

Maxine was so very ready to join my Dad, other family members and friends in heaven. I gathered some items for her memory table, including her Bible. The last time she read her Bible was Revelation 21, and the heading was "Prepare to Meet God."

Those that knew Maxine, thank you for your friendship and love.
Eric and I appreciate all of the love, thoughts and prayers that have been sent to us.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com