Lora ‘Maxine’ Herrmann Little

Lora ‘Maxine’ Herrmann Little was born January 6, 1928, in Pity Me, a ‘suburb’ of Cheshire, Ohio, to Roy and Gail Mulford Herrmann. She suffered a fall at her house the Monday prior to her death, and spent the remainder of her days in her family’s home where she could be taken care of by her sons and daughters-in-law. She left this earthly world on August 13, 2023 at the young age of 95. Maxine married her late husband Billy on September 30, 1950, and they cherished their 68 years together before his death in 2019. In her husband’s later years, she cared for him at their home.
   Maxine was the second of five daughters who all worked tirelessly on the large family farm. She attended Silver Run School and graduated from Middleport High School in 1945. During her high school years, she and her sisters were often referred to as ‘Jake Herrmann’s Milk Maids’. 
   She was a dedicated RN who worked exclusively at Holzer Hospital for 48 years, primarily in the Surgery and Pediatrics Departments where she was loved and respected by all. She was the epitome of a professional nurse who always arrived at the hospital in her white dress, hose and shoes while wearing her nursing cap and pins she felt were the symbols of the nursing profession. Maxine mentored many fellow nurses as they strived to achieve her status as nurse. During her training at the Holzer Nursing School, she was a member of the Cadet Nurse Corps.
   After her retirement from nursing in 1996, she made a promise to herself to always look her best, even if she had no plans to leave the home that day. Because of that vow, she always wore makeup, jewelry, and stylish clothes each and every day. 
   Maxine was a faithful member of the Meigs County Council on Aging and until recent years, could be found bright and early every day working out in their Fitness Center. Her advice to all: ‘Keep moving!’ She kept moving by riding her stationary bike at least 30 mins daily until the day of her fall and eventual demise. At the Fitness Center, it has been said that she could keep up with the best of her fellow treadmill partners, always wearing makeup, and her finest clothing and jewelry.
   Maxine has been involved in many community programs, including Yesteryear, Bible teaching at the Senior Center, and volunteering for many other programs there. Maxine was also a dedicated member of the Swinging Seniors and took part in line dancing and clogging for many years. She and Bill were active members of the Belles and Beaus Square Dance Club.  
   Her most evident characteristic was her faith in God, and she shared that faith with others, especially while her husband pastored at the Silver Run Baptist church where she also was the pianist, a Sunday School Teacher and Youth leader, and a leader in the VBS and Christmas Programs. In later years, she and Bill became members of the First Southern Baptist Church where she continued her service as a Sunday School and VBS teacher. And most recently, she appreciated the prayers and support of the Carmel-Sutton Church Family and its Pastor, Mark Mitera.
   Preceding her in death in addition to her husband Billy, were her parents, a brother George Harvey Herrmann who died from whooping cough at just 2 weeks old, and a half-brother Arthur Landaker McDaniel, killed in France as a paratrooper during D-Day. Also, her sisters and their husbands Pauline and Emmett Thompson, Wilma and Howard Parker, and Peggy and Charles (Chuck) Thomas. A niece, April Parker Lewis, and a nephew, Todd Thomas, also preceded her in death.
   Maxine leaves behind her loving sons and their wives Doug and Connie, and Keith and Carol, all of Racine, Ohio. Also surviving are her grandsons and their wives Jesse and Misty, who live in Plain City, Ohio, and Tyler and Courtney of Chillicothe, Ohio. Upon becoming Great Grandmother, she requested the great-grands call her ‘Grandee’, which Emmett, Parker, Samuel and Adeline did. 
   Also surviving are a sister Karen Austin of Hernando, Florida, a brother-in- law Bob Swisher of Cheshire, Ohio, and numerous nieces and nephews (we can’t forget another survivor, her white hummingbird who came to see her daily about two weeks before she passed. The family researched white hummingbirds and discovered they are extremely rare).   
The family would like to extend their gratitude to all family and friends who loved her, prayed for her and took time to visit her. We especially want to thank her caretaker, Julia Combs, who became a dear friend and part of the family. And also her nephews and their wives, Mike and Teresa Little, and Steve and Rita Little, who took time out to frequently visit her. 
   Funeral services for Maxine will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, August 19th at the Anderson McDaniel Funeral Home in Pomeroy, Ohio with Pastor Steve Little and Pastor Mark Mitera officiating. A recognition service will be conducted at the end of the services by the Nurse Honor Guard of the Ohio Valley. Burial will follow at Gravel Hill Cemetery in Cheshire, Ohio. Calling hours are Friday from 5:00-8:00. At her request and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carmel Sutton Church at 31435 Pleasant View Road, Racine, OH 45771.