Maxine Pike

WESTBROOK — Maxine Crosby Pike, 92, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2017, at Springbrook Center in Westbrook, surrounded by those who loved her.

She was the fourth of five children, born to Leon A. Crosby and Mildred Hudson Crosby in Bridgton, on Aug., 18, 1924. Maxine graduated from Bridgton High School in 1942. She attended nursing school at Maine General Hospital in Portland and, in 1944, married Frank H. Pike Jr. They built a house together on South High Street and while raising four kids she worked at Central Maine Power Company in the 1960s. Frank and Maxine developed a very close group of friends who were always together. In addition, she had a large group of girlfriends and was considered a second mom to many of the neighborhood kids. Maxine particularly loved going to Pine Point Beach and eating fried clams with her sister Phyllis and her children. After losing her beloved husband at the age of 42 in 1967, then her eldest son Jeffrey in 1968, Maxine moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and worked in her brother Leon Crosby’s television station, KEMO-TV.

She loved California. She studied oil painting at the College of Marin and painted beautiful seascapes and portraits. In addition to being an accomplished painter, Maxine was a fabulous ballroom dancer. She took pride in her gardens in Larkspur, where she had a lovely home on the lagoon with views of Mt. Tamalpais. She enjoyed the water, either sailing on San Francisco Bay or going out on her brother’s 58-ft. Hatteras Yacht.

In 2002, Maxine moved back to Maine and lived in Kennebunk to be closer to her children and help raise her granddaughter Taylor. She was a knitter and doting Nanny. An art exhibit at the Kennebunk Free Library in 2007, called “3 Generations,” displayed her artwork along with her daughter Heather’s and granddaughter Taylor’s art. Maxine also had a keen interest in horses and liked going to the racetrack at Golden Gate Fields, Scarborough Downs and Fryeburg Fair.

She was predeceased by brothers Everett, Leon and Roy Crosby., and her son Jeffery K. Pike in 1968.

Maxine is survived by her daughters Cynthia J. Pike of West Newfield and Heather Pike Bruhl and her husband Dr. Timothy Bruhl of Kennebunk; and a son Frank H. Pike III of Bridgton; her three grandchildren, Taylor Maribeth Bruhl of Kennebunk, Jennifer Maxine Pike of Gorham, Frank H. Pike IV and wife Chandra of Gray; and two great-grandchildren, Graham and Frank H. Pike V. She is also survived by her loving sister Phyllis C. Briggs of Scarborough, sisters-in-law Joyce Pike Nowell of Bridgton, and Marilyn Button of California; and many wonderful and close nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Springbrook Center for their four and a half years of dedication and extraordinary care of their mother.

Upon her request Maxine was cremated and no funeral will be held. She will be interred at Forest Hills in Bridgton, with a celebration of life on Highland Lake.

Arrangements are in the care of the Chandler Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 8 Elm St., Bridgton. Words of condolence and tribute may be shared at www.chandlerfunerals.com