Maxine Gray Cope was born October 21, 1934, in Silver Valley, Coleman County, Texas to Jessie “Cody” Coleman and Eunice Baker Gray. In 1940, Maxine’s family moved to Coleman from Silver Valley.

Maxine and her sisters Lois and Carolyn attended Coleman West Ward School, walking almost a mile. The West Ward property is now home to Matthew 25 Ministries (The Cross). Maxine’s first job was working at her dad’s fruit stand (Gray’s Fruit Stand on North Neches). At age 12 her job included driving her dad to Comanche to buy watermelons.

On December 23, 1950, Pete and Maxine married at her grandparents’ home at 218 Ripley Street in Coleman. This began her great adventure with Pete Cope. At first, Pete and Maxine lived in rent houses, then Maxine convinced Pete to buy a trailer to live in as they traveled looking for jobs in the Oil Field. Sometimes Pete would drive up to a worksite, get out, and go to work as Maxine parked the trailer and set it up. They lived wherever Pete could find work, Coleman, Santa Anna, Abilene, Midland, Odessa, Lamesa, Big Lake……

In 1952, Pete and Maxine moved to Midland, and they enjoyed going to the picture show. Maxine worked as an Elevator Operator at the Shell Building in Midland. In 1954, two weeks after Charlie was born, Pete broke his wrist. Pete had to quit his job on the drilling rig and moved home to the Cope Place where he was born nearby and raised. Pete and Maxine moved the trailer under the big oak tree, then moved into the little house on the property. On April 22, 1960, Pete and Maxine moved to the Dairy when Pete started the Dairy Business. In the 1960’s Maxine with lifelong friends Peggy and Herma Jean began meeting at the Owl Drug, and they met for over 50 years. As others joined them, they were called the “Fun Bunch” and had their own table. Also, in the 1960s Maxine and Peggy Burdick traveled all over Texas as Antique Dealers. Maxine would take neighboring Children to Vacation Bible School, changing their lives.

In 1970, Pete and Maxine moved to town. In the 1970s Maxine began remolding houses and wallpapering for the public. In 1978 Maxine designed and had their home built on the side of the hill facing Santa Anna. Maxine was the bookkeeper for the Cope Dairy for 41 years, that also included bookkeeping for goats, ostrich, emus, sheep, and rent houses. Maxine hatched ostrich and emus for 15 years, from 1989 to 2004. Once an ostrich knocked Pete down and stomped him and Maxine diverted the ostrich and Pete was able to escape. When Pete was 100 years old and Maxine was 90, the sheep knocked Pete over and was running over him. Maxine beat the sheep off with her cane and helped Pete up.

Maxine would load up the Caddy with grandchildren and take them all over Texas. Maxine and her friends enjoyed traveling, going to faraway places. Occasionally Pete would go on a trip if Maxine and Viki Allen could trick their husbands into going.

At 91, Maxine drove with a license, went to the beauty shop weekly, bought groceries, cooked, ran their home, and took care of Pete.

Maxine Cope passed from this world peacefully on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Coleman County Medical Center.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

In honor of Maxine’s life in lieu of flowers, please make donations to: Matthew 25 Ministries (The Cross), P.O. Box 1003 Coleman, Texas 76834.

Maxine is survived by her husband, Pete Cope; her children Charlie Cope, and Maureen “Mo” Cope Wilson. She loved and adored her grandchildren, Cody, Brody Scott, Tye, Mitchell, and Russell along with her great-grandchildren, Sidney Sky, Brody Shane, Clayton, Hannah, and Carlie. Maxine will also be remembered by her loving sister, Carolyn Gray Bluhm.

Maxine is preceded in death by her parents; one grandson, Brody Scott Cope; and her siblings, Lois Gray Berry, Billy Carl Gray, and James Cody Gray.

The family will host a visitation from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Friday, October 23, 2026, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service celebrating her remarkable life will be at 2:00 pm Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Barry Wilson officiating. A private interment will be in the Coleman City Cemetery. Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.

Following the service, family and friends are invited to a reception at Matthew 25 Ministries (The Cross) at 115 Gray Street, in Coleman.

We invite you to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with the Cope family by signing the guestbook on Maxine’s tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com. Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cope family.