Barbara Louise Maxfield, 96, passed away peacefully in her sleep at the home of her daughter Susan with her family by her side on October 23, 2022, in Harrison.

Barbara was born Barbara Louise Millett on August 25, 1926, to Arthur Millett and Grace (Sawin) Millett at her parents’ and grandparents’ farm on Plummer Hill in Waterford. She was their fourth daughter and was the third youngest of 10 children.

Her early education was at a one-room schoolhouse located at the foot of the driveway to the farm which she attended from the first grade through the eighth grade. She attended Norway High School for her freshman year and part of sophomore year, but it was difficult finding transportation from Waterford to Norway every day. The next year she moved to Elliot, Maine, where her older brother Howard was the principal. There she earned her room and board by doing household chores and babysitting his three sons! Mom graduated Salutatorian from Elliot High School in 1945.

After high school, mom ventured far from home on her own to Baltimore, Md., to attend nursing school. She wanted to do her part in supporting the brave young men that had gone off to Europe to fight in the war. Traveling alone from the farm in Waterford to the big city of Baltimore was an eye-opening experience.

Three months before what would have been her graduation from nursing school my father returned from the war, traveled to Baltimore and asked my mother to marry him.

Barbara married Delmore A. Maxfield on March 10, 1946, at her parent’s farm on Plummer Hill. Apparently, it had been a very wet and rainy spring because on their wedding day Delmore got stuck in the mud on the Plummer Hill Road on the way up the hill for the wedding ceremony and his soon to be father-in-law had to come down with the farm truck and pull his car out of the mud.

Barbara lived a very happy and full life, as a housewife, mother of two, grandmother of six plus five step-grandchildren, great-grandmother of 19, and great-great-grandmother of eight. She was a longtime member of the Rebekah’s, a past noble grand, and district deputy, a member of the VFW Auxiliary, the Crafty Critters sewing group, and thoroughly enjoyed teaching the art of painting to anyone wishing to participate. She loved to cook and bake, and her cookie jar was always full with a tasty treat for anyone to enjoy. Some of our favorites were her homemade rolls fresh from the oven, pies of all kinds, and monster cookies.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband Delmore and their infant daughter Sally Anne, all of her siblings, and son- in-law John Gazza.

She leaves to cherish her memory her eldest daughter, Susan Searles-Gazza and son, Delmore A. Maxfield Jr. (Butch) and his wife Cathleen; grandchildren, Carol Doucette of Waterford, Chris Searles of Harrison, Kim Todd of Hampden and her husband Jim, Deb Maxfield of Bethel, Donovan Maxfield of Durham and his wife Barbara, Dan Maxfield of Harrison; step-grandchildren James Gazza of Conn., and his fiancé Nicole, Randy Gazza of Fla., and his wife Linda, and Richard Gazza of N.H., and his wife Michele, Josh Bradbury of Hawaii and his wife Kara, Justin Bradbury of N.Y., and his wife Shanon as well as the great-grandchildren, step-great- grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and the step-great- great-grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews and their families.

The service for Barbara Maxfield was held on November 12, 2022, at 10 A.M. at the United Parish UCC of Harrison and North Bridgton, Maine.

Interment at the Edes Fall Cemetery in Naples, will take place after the reception with family (weather permitting).

Memorial donations can be made in Barbara’s name to United Parish UCC of Harrison and North Bridgton.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Home and Cremation Services 45 Main Street, South Paris, Maine.