Dorothy Maxine Ashcraft Gibson of Bay City, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Bay City, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Van Vleck, Texas, on November 27, 1937, to the late John & Mary Ashcraft.

As the sixth child of John and Mary Ashcraft’s seven children, she grew up at Live Oak in the old Lukefahr School House, with family. She attended Van Vleck schools from first through twelfth grade and had many close friends. One of whom was Nancy O’Connell Bridgewater, who she kept in touch with for years. In high school she was a cheerleader and twirler, and proud of it. Maxine started dating Neal Gibson in high school and they were married soon after graduation. They were the cutest couple.

Maxine was a wife, a homemaker, the mother of three boys Eric, Hoyt and John, and beloved sister, sister-in-law and aunt to many nieces and nephews. As her husband’s welding business was growing, she became the business bookkeeper. She created a home that was a place of lots of huge family gatherings - her twin brother’s surprise 50th birthday party, Grandma Ashcraft birthdays, and Fourth of July celebrations that included family and friends. It was such a fun time for her. The yard was always perfect and there was lots of space - in the small house, or on the back covered porch, and later, in the party barn. She and her sisters, especially Grace, enjoyed collecting miniatures. It was so fun to watch them squeal over something they found, and they usually bought two, one for each other. Those collections became quite large! She was so happy when Grace and Buddy moved right down the road from them. They loved doing life together—cooking, going to church & talking. She shared a special bond with her niece, Terry Weathers and her cousin, Noma Lee Slater. Maxine was also well known throughout the community for her commitment and dedication to her family, and her cooking and baking skills. No one could fry chicken or bake a pie quite like Maxine. Her chicken and dumplings, chicken salad and toffee were also legendary. When you asked for the recipe, she just said you mixed the dumplings until “they felt right” and rolled them paper thin. Absolutely no one has mastered the art of making those thin dumplings like she and her sister Mary. (We believe canned milk is the secret.)

After a divorce and John’s graduation from High School, Maxine moved to Bay City in 1997. When her life radically changed, she was resilient and made a new future for herself. She got a job as a cashier at Walmart and soon moved to the customer service center. She enjoyed seeing so many of the people she knew and loved. Maxine was employed with Walmart for just over 20 years, until her sister Irene’s passing after assuming her primary care responsibilities. She spent the next eight years enjoying retirement, church, family and friend gatherings. Travel, new friendships and a career replaced sadness. She enjoyed seeing new places, travels and lots of fun trips with her bestie, Diane. They visited her nieces, Dee Dee in Maine Debbie in California, stopping by the Grand Canyon on the way. On the trip to Maine, she spent hours looking for the perfect “grandmother dress” for her granddaughter Hollie’s wedding. When she put it on, they all knew it was the one!

Maxine shared many of the same characteristics of her siblings - crystal blue eyes, natural curly hair, conversation with anyone and everyone, lots of friends, love for their community, good laughs, spiciness, family history and stories, and motion sickness. She was tiny, but mighty. If you pushed too hard, you might see steam come out of her ears…little banty rooster. She also had the best, most engaging laugh!

Maxine is survived by her sons; Eric Gibson and his wife Susan, and John Gibson; her grandchildren Hollie Gibson Wood and her husband Adam and their children Lorelei and Riker; Chad Picard and his wife Jessie and their son Jaxon Sanger-Picard; Trey Picard and his wife Erica and their children Marlee Ann Picard and John Claud Picard IV (JC); and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. Her son Hoyt, parents, brothers Wade, Wyatt, and Clyde, and sisters Irene, Grace and Mary and grandson Jake Picard, preceded her in death.

The family will receive family and friends for visitation from 1 – 2 PM on Thursday, May 28, 2026, and the funeral service will be 2:00 PM at the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Bay City with Pastors Kevin Blake and Sam Starks officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck. Pallbearers are Tag Anderson, Jason & Frank Weathers, Jase Ashcraft, Matthew Ashcraft, Taylor Ashcraft, and Ryan Ashcraft. Honorary pallbearers are Berry Dean, Josh Bullock, and Gordon McMinn, John Ashcraft, and Mike Anderson.