School Mourns Loss of Maxine Cantley

St. Mark’s mourns the loss of Maxine Cantley who died September 11, 2012, at the age of 71. A dedicated member of the Food Services and Cafeteria staff for more than forty years, Maxine was a part of the heart and soul of this School. Her care for the boys and for the teachers was matched only by her quick wit and marvelous sense of humor. Four decades of alumni fondly recall their daily encounters with Maxine and more importantly, the imprint that she left.

While quick to sternly correct straying Marksmen young and old, Maxine was known by all to have an absolute heart of gold. Whether reminding boys about tucking in their shirts or “giving them the business” for trying to take an extra dessert, Maxine had a warm, endearing smile that always let you know how much she truly cared.

Maxine Cantley joined St. Mark’s in 1972 when food service was in the old gym. Among many other things, Maxine helped the transition into the A. Earl Cullum, Jr., Alumni Commons with its state-of-the-art servery and dining hall. During the year-long construction of this new facility, the cafeteria staff served lunches in a temporary tent behind Davis Hall that affectionately became known as The Blacktop Café. When it rained, water literally ran through the tent like a river, but Maxine and her colleagues kept everyone’s spirits high.

Sally Stephens, Director of Food Services, said of Maxine, “There is no one at St. Mark’s who loved the boys more or is more loyal to the School than Maxine. She was dependable to a fault and you could count on her to always tell you what she thought! She loved working with our volunteers and made many good friends over the 40 years she worked here.”

In addition to her work during the school year, Maxine was also a fixture for many years at the St. Mark’s Day Camp. Counselors and campers alike knew and loved Maxine. She made sure that everyone felt welcome and valued, regardless of his or her age.

Maxine was known for always remembering the names and graduation years of alumni when they returned to campus. Whether still in college or grown with children, “her boys” were at the center of her life. Just this past April, the St. Mark’s Alumni Association honored Maxine at the annual Spring Alumni Dinner for 40 years of dedicated service to the school, along with her cafeteria colleagues Lucy Shepherd and Thelma Levells. Stephanie Barta, Stephen M. Seay ’68 Science Department Chair and Director of the St. Mark’s Camps, paid tribute to Maxine saying, “She is a true St. Mark’s legend. No one at St. Mark’s has ever been so outspoken in her views or had a deeper love and affection for the entire school community.”

Maxine leaves behind six children, and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Eugene McDermott Headmaster Arnie Holtberg wrote, “Maxine loved St. Mark’s and its people dearly. In turn, she was a remarkable individual whom we loved. She has left an enduring imprint on the life of this School. We are grateful for her having been in our midst.”

Maxine Cantley made many wonderful contributions to St. Mark’s and she will be sorely missed.

The wake and funeral are scheduled to take place at Forest Avenue Missionary Baptist Church at 2500 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dallas, TX 75215. Seating and parking will be very limited.

Wake and Family Visitation: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 14, 2012
Funeral: 12:00 Noon Saturday, September 15, 2012