Maisie Ellen McMahan Everett

Maisie Ellen (McMahan) Everett passed away on November 24, 2025 in Amarillo, TX. Celebration of Life services will be held at 2:00 p.m., November 28, 2025 at LaGrone Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors, Coulter Road Chapel. The family will receive friends for a visitation on Friday, November 28, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Maisie Ellen Everett was born May 23, 1927 in Moline, Texas, to Ray and Ladell McMahan. Her father owned and operated the Moline Barber Shop and his own trucking company. Her mother was the Postmistress of Moline in 1933 and was a dressmaker for the public. Maisie attended Moline grade school and graduated in 1944 as Salutatorian from Lometa High School, where she had stayed after school many days practicing and crying until she could type 15 words a minute to pass typing class! She attended Jackson Business School, Lampasas, TX, the University of Texas in Austin, West Texas State College, Canyon, Texas, New Mexico A&MA, University Park, NM, and Amarillo College. She received her Bachelor of Science in 1964 and her master’s in education in July 1975 from West Texas State University, Canyon, TX.

She was employed by the University of Texas Library, and then in Abilene, TX by F.W. Woolworth, and by Dr. James P. Bridges from December 1946 until September 1951. In Amarillo, she worked for F.M. McCarty Panhandle Plains School Supply and American Associated Insurance Companies. In 1952, she worked in Las Cruces, NM, for an insurance company and E. F. Adams, CPA, until September 1953. In Amarillo, she worked for Dr. A. B. Goldston as a receptionist and insurance clerk until April 1956. Then she worked for Bell Telephone Company in the business office and Shamrock Oil and Gas Co credit department from 1956 until Fall 1963. She taught 3rd grade at Oak Dale Elementary School from September 1963 through May 1996. She taught summer school on many different campuses in Amarillo. She did substitute teaching from 1997 until 2002. She said most of her friends were under twelve years of age!

Maisie married her high school sweetheart, Billie Joe Everett, on June 23, 1946 and were married until his passing in June 2003. She is survived by her son Roger Dale Everett and wife Marilyn of Yukon, OK; and daughter Melody Jo Pinson of Amarillo, TX; Her grandchildren, Wade Pinson and wife Amy, and Steven Pinson of Amarillo; Erin Everett of Yukon, OK, Alex Everett and wife Adair of Chapel Hill, NC; She is also survived by her great grandchildren: William Xavier Pinson, Havyn Marie Pinson, Benjamin Maxwell Pinson and Escher Dale Everett, Monarch Shook, and her foster sister Fredrica McGehee and husband John of Round Rock, TX. She was pre-deceased by her parents, stepfather V.J. “Turk” Woolley, stepmother Corene (Reese) McMahan, stepmother Opal (Sawyer) McMahan, sister Nellie Hempen-Clark and her half-sister Connie Rae Miller-Gaddy.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the High Plains Food Bank or Storybridge in her memory.

Stories to Remember:

Feeding the chickens was not Maisie's favorite job. She always got clawed and pecked until she came out bloody and no eggs! Her younger Sister was a better gatherer. She petted and cooed at the hens and always got a full basket of eggs.

One time, Maisie wanted ice cream. Nellie did not like milking Old Mary. Poor Nellie, Old Mary beat her with that dirty old tale about her shoulders and face until she was dirty and bruised. Nellie never got much milk to bring in. Her mother asked who was going to milk Old Mary the cow. Maisie said she would. She had watched her daddy milk Old Mary, and she thought she could do it. So she chased Old Mary around the yard until she caught her. Then she led her to the barn, sat down, and started to milk. It took her a while to get the milk to flow, but she got about half of a cup and carried it back to her mother. They got the custard made, and when her daddy came home, it was in the ice cream mixer, ready for someone to crank the handle. What a nice treat for the end of a hot day. Now, Daddy had a milking helper.

Maisie's Mother was sick and in the hospital. Maisie missed her and wanted her to feel better. So, one summer day, she had gone out to her daddy's fruit orchard, where he grew peaches and apricots. Maisie knew her mother loved fresh peaches, and she picked a few. She thought what a wonderful treat to send to her mother. Then she thought mother would like them peeled and sliced, so Maisie peeled the peaches and sliced them and wrapped them in newspaper, and to keep them fresh, and took the box to the post office and mailed them to her mother. What a surprise Ladell had when she opened the box of moldy peaches. But she did smile at the thoughtful girl in Lometa.

Another time, Maisie and her little sister Nellie had been waiting for Christmas to come. They had read books and magazines showing Christmas Trees all decorated. So, they decided they needed a Christmas Tree. So, Maisie got the boning knife down, and Nellie carried the small hatchet, and they went up the hill behind the house looking for a very nice tree. One big enough to enjoy decorating and small enough to cut down. Of course, they found one. They went to work with the hatchet and then finished it off with the boning knife. When their daddy came home, he found a bucket and some rocks to hold the tree upright. That night, they popped corn and strung it on the tree with thread. Their daddy found the candles and put them on the tree with clips. He told the girls they had to be very careful with lighting and watching so the candles don't catch the tree on fire. That night, they had a warm and magical night by the tree. Soon they put out the candles and went to bed with smiles on their faces.

After several years of wedded bliss, Maisie was multitasking. She had several applications for a new position, and little Roger was a very busy 3-year-old. She had let him out in the backyard and answered the phone about a job. While she was writing down important information about the job, Roger Dale was busy poking the hose up against the back screen door. The hose was pouring water all over the kitchen floor while she was getting a job. After her interview, she managed to get the water turned off. It is amazing how a 3-year-old can turn the water on but not off. After the cleanup, the job was in hand!