 FINE, MAXINE W. September 13, 1925 - November 21, 2013 In the year that Maxine Williamson Fine was born, Wyoming's Nellie Tayloe Ross became the nation's first female governor, The New Yorker magazine published its first issue, and Picasso painted "The Three Dancers." Like Nellie Tayloe Ross, Maxine knew how to be bold and effective-she got things done. Like The New Yorker, Maxine was smart and witty. And like Picasso, Maxine expressed herself through art. A native of Pryor, Oklahoma, Maxine also lived in Arkansas, Texas, and California before she settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico. By age 30, she was a divorcee using her secretarial skills at Sandia Laboratory to support two daughters under the age of four. In 1959, Maxine married Allan Fine, and the home she made for her family reflected her creativity and her passion for life. In time, her home was filled with her paintings and the works of friends and other New Mexico artists. Maxine's talent was acknowledged through the many art shows in which she was invited to participate, and one of her paintings was displayed at the Governor's Gallery in the state capitol. When Allan was diagnosed with cancer in 1990, Maxine took loving care of him throughout his surgery and treatment. When her mother, Stella, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a few years later, Maxine made sure that Stella was well cared for and surrounded by beauty. When Allan's cancer returned in 1997, Maxine worked closely with the hospice staff to keep him comfortable. In 2008, after living in Albuquerque for more than 50 years, Maxine moved to Portland, Oregon, which is home to the second of her three daughters. As a child of the Great Depression, she loved having a penthouse apartment at Calaroga Retirement Community. When ill health forced Maxine to move to an assisted-living floor, she made fast friends with the caregivers because of her cheerfulness, her appreciation of their help, and her interest in their lives. Maxine died peacefully on November 21, 2013. She is survived by her daughters Mandy Fine of Albuquerque, JP Christy of Portland, and Lynne Laidlaw of Surrey, England. Her daughters loved her dearly and will miss her fiercely. Because New Mexico was the home closest to her heart, Maxine's daughters say goodbye with "Vaya con Dios." Maxine's daughters have had their own private memorial services.
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