Maude Rochelle Dee Yow passed away Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at the age of 90. She had relocated to St. Petersburg, FL ten years ago to be near her daughter, Ruthe. She was born near Brooksville, MS. on July 18, 1923 to Benjamin Dee, Sr. and Lucille Cunningham Hairston Dee. Her service will be Friday, December 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Anne Russell Bradley, Rev. Tony Proctor and Rev. Anne Harris officiating. Visitation will be 10:00 AM at the church. Burial will imediately follow in Brooksville City Cemetery. In 1943 she married Hal D. Yow from Gibsonville, North Carolina who was stationed at Columbus Army Flying School as a drill sergeant. In the ensuing years, they welcomed two daughters, Anna and Ruthe, into a loving environment filled with music. Hal and Maude were married until Hal's death in 2000, culminating 57 years of marriage. The last fifteen, spent in retirement, were wonderful years of traveling, attending sports events at Mississippi State University and being active members of Keenagers. In many of these activities they were accompanied by Maude's beloved brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Thelma Dee. Dr. Maude Yow received her undergraduate degree in biology from what was then known as Mississippi State College for Women. While teaching second grade in the public schools for many years, she continued her education, earning a specialist's degree from the University of Alabama, then a master's and doctorate in education from Mississippi State University. She was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She concluded her professional career in education as Dean of the School of Education at Mississippi University for Women. Though a lifelong member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, she attended First United Methodist Church faithfully, along with her husband and daughters. She and Hal were long time members of the Stuckenschneider Sunday School class. Her life was greatly enhanced by the addition of two granddaughters, Madeleine and Rochelle. As with her daughters, Maude was extremely supportive of their endeavors. She instilled in them all a love of learning and travel. She is survived by Ruthe of St. Petersburg, Florida; Anna and Jim Briscoe of Indianapolis, Indiana; Madeleine and Justin Smith of Indianapolis; Rochelle Briscoe of Denver, Colorado; niece, Kathy Dee and husband, Bo Whalen of Montevallo, Alabama; sister-in-law Ruth Ellen Yow Whitt of Greensboro, North Carolina; nieces Faye Cheek and Linda Waynick of Gibsonville, along with other nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Justin Smith, Mark Cheek, Carl Stokes, Bill Briscoe, Tommy Hunt, and B.A. Atkins. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate memorials be sent to Palmer Home, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703; the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 8, Columbus, MS 39703 or First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 32, Columbus, MS 39703. The last six and a half years of her life were spent at Bon Secours Assisted Living Facility in St. Petersburg, Florida. To say that Bon Secours and Maude were blessings to each other would be an understatement. While her health slowly declined, her joie de vivre never waned. The family wishes to acknowledge the deep love and support given by Sister Dolores O'Brien, Yolanda Quesada, Aura Zuniga and Connie Maddox.
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