Maxine Cleone Roose
Join us in celebrating Maxine—please share your stories and photos, and help spread the word about this page!
Maxine Cleone (Lee) Roose, 98, of Anacortes, WA passed away February 27, 2022 in her daughter's Sequim home surrounded by her loving family. Maxine was born May 6, 1923, in Bellingham, WA, the daughter of Carl J. and Ida (Tuff) Lee. Raised in Bellingham, she graduated from Bellingham High School in 1941. She went on to fulfill her dream of being a nurse, graduating from the Swedish Hospital School for Nurses, Seattle, WA in 1945. Then, in 1946, Maxine Lee married her childhood sweetheart, Bob Roose, who was recently home from serving 4 years in the US Navy, WWII. Maxine and Bob were an inseparable couple, lovingly married for 64 years, until Bob's death in 2010. They raised their family of four children in Bellingham until 1954. Then, they all moved to their new home at 1903 22nd Street in Anacortes when Bob got a job at Shell Oil Refinery. A stay-at-home Mom for many years, Maxine joyfully fulfilled her highest calling, which was to deeply love her husband and children and nurture her children to love and serve the Lord. As their children grew into the teen years, Maxine went back to work as an OB nurse for 20+ years at Island Hospital in Anacortes. Over the years there, she compassionately cared for hundreds of grateful young mothers with their newborn babies. Maxine was a devout Christian and sought to shine Christ's love to others all her life. She showered God's love on her family, church friends, neighbors, newcomers and strangers. She was known for her kind and giving heart. With a servant's heart, Maxine participated in many ministries at Anacortes Lutheran, teaching children's Sunday School, leading Bible devotions for women, sewing quilts for missions and serving in the church kitchen. When people were sick, hurting or needy Maxine cared and sent encouraging cards, or brought gifts or meals to comfort them. We will remember many sweet qualities about our Mom. Her radiant smile was a blessing to all. She dearly loved all babies, and she was gifted in writing poetry and cooking delicious dinners and pies for family and friends. Momma, we loved you so much and felt you were the best mother anyone could have. Thank you for your prayers for all of us. We know you trusted in Jesus' promise in John 6:47, that if we believe in Him, we will have everlasting life. Dear Momma, we know you are rejoicing now in heaven in the presence of Jesus. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, her only brother, Ralph Sr. and her granddaughter Mindi Atterberry. She is survived by her children: Bob Roose and Wendy (Michael Atterberry) of Anacortes, Linda (Mitch Johnson) and Janice Link of Sequim; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, step-great grandchildren: Matt (Autumn), Megan (John), Anna Joy, Emily (Moises), Darren, David, Tory, Phoebe, Luca, Staely, Lucca, Lily, Leo, David, Andres, Kasey, Tyson, Jamison, Mitchell, Crystal, Jeremiah, Addy and Kellen; adopted grandchildren: Ingrid, Elizabeth and Grace; nephew and nieces: Ralph Lee, Brenda, Becky, Missy and Maria. Maxine's Memorial service will be held at Anacortes Lutheran Church, on Sat. April 2 at 1:00 pm. Maxine's lifelong compassion for mothers and their babies may be honored in a suggested memorial to C.A.R.E. Medical Center (formerly Pregnancy Choices) located at: 110 N 15th Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. The donation link will be available at Maxine's memorial site at www.evanschapel.com/obituary/maxine-roose where you can also share memories of her.