Virginia Maxine Paris

Virginia “Maxine” Paris 1937-2024

Maxine was a woman of many talents and loved her community deeply. She loved to garden, and it seemed like she could just scratch the earth and beautiful flowers; grass or fresh vegetables would spring up. She loved Christmas and was constantly crafting Santa Clauses from fur coats, sparkly tops, and rags. She also loved to feed people and always had a table full of food she had whipped up for family or friends, and it seemed like just about everyone was a friend. 

Virginia Maxine Paris, eighty-seven, of Tahoka, Texas passed at her daughter’s home on Monday, March 25, 2024. She was the third of eight children born in O’Donnell on February 17, 1937, to Farris Bell Durham and Homer Quitman Durham. Like all her siblings, Maxine’s personality reflected the headstrong temperament of the Durhams’ and a gentler nature of her mother Farris. Maxine attended O’Donnell high school till she married Leslie Ray Paris at sixteen. 

Maxine met Leslie in O’Donnell when she was 14 years old. Leslie thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen and asked if he could drive her home. He managed to get her parent's consent to date, and they were married two years later in October 1953. They settled in Tahoka Texas and raised three children.

She was the owner and operator of two local cafes in the 70’s and 80’s. She retired form the restaurant business in 1987 and then became a florist in the mid 90’s going on to run Paris N’Bloom until 2022.

Maxine is survived by her husband Leslie Ray Paris, son Leslie (Pug) Paris and his wife Pam Paris, daughter Kellie Paris Craig and her husband Joe Craig, daughter in law Kim Paris, sister Betty Murley, brothers David Kenneth Durham and Larry Durham, nephew Brian Durham, her nine grandchildren Brent Paris, Brek Young, Shea Hester, Jarid Pridmore, Josh Pridmore, Trevor Cook, Michael Paris, Skylar Kyzar and Kami Pierce along with 23 great grandkids, and a host of nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. 

Maxine is preceded in death by her father Homer Durham, mother Farris Durham, sisters Patsy “Pat” Eaves, Wilma “Frances” Durham, brothers Jeral Durham and Sherman and son Danny Michael Paris.

A time of visitation for Maxine will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024, from 6:00p.m. – 7:00p.m. at the Combest Family Memorial Chapel in Tahoka, TX. 

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 29, 2024, at 2:00p.m. at Grace Community Church (Old United Methodist Church). A burial will follow immediately at Nevels Cemetery in Tahoka, TX.