Maxine Secules

Maxine Secules died on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Wolf Run Village Assisted Living Center in Hughesville. She was 99.

Longtime Hughesville residents may remember Maxine for making history in Lycoming County in 1969 as one of the three first women on borough councils, together with Pauline Montgomery in Hughesville and a woman in Jersey Shore. The town’s women voted across party lines to elect both Maxine, a Republican, and Pauline, a Democrat. The police chief at the time told the Sun Gazette he’d like to see more women on the council because “They get things done.”

After serving one term on the police committee of the council she became Hughesville’s first borough manager. In that capacity she managed water and street crews, collected water bills, dealt with citizen issues, and made certain the borough was compliant with state and federal laws. Occasionally she even accompanied the police in situations where it would be helpful to have a woman involved. She wrote the first block grants that secured money from the federal government for such important amenities as new streetlights and storm sewers. Upon her retirement in 1991 borough solicitor J. Howard Langdon said she made his job easier by being so very good at hers.

Born Alice Maxine Eck in Eldred Township in 1926, she helped her father on the family farm and at the Williamsport Farmers’ Market. She excelled in schools in Eldred Township and Montoursville and graduated from Montgomery High School after the family bought a farm in Black Hole Valley. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran (Brick) Church for almost 40 years.

Maxine and her husband, Lewis Secules, came to Hughesville in 1956 with four young children (soon to add a fifth) and, before long, set up Secules Custom Kitchens, where Maxine managed the business. She was involved in the local community in various roles, including as president of the PTA, chair of the library board, and member of the Women’s Club. After successfully securing financial aid for her own children, she was asked by the PTA to give a talk on the topic for local students who wanted to go to college.

In 1979 Lewis and Maxine built a house on family land in Unityville, where she was pianist, Sunday School teacher, and charge treasurer at Franklin Bethel United Methodist Church. They also built a large pavilion and hosted church picnics and family reunions each summer. After retirement, she and her husband delivered Meals on Wheels in that area for 16 years, often to people a decade or two younger.

Local folks may also remember her as “Monthly Maxine” at WILQ for her wide knowledge of trivia. She and husband of 72 years, Lewis, were crossword enthusiasts, doing the daily puzzle in the Sun Gazette and others from books of the notoriously difficult New York Times crosswords. She also enjoyed artistic endeavors in her later years.

Maxine has been called a “force of nature” by some. When she made up her mind to do something there was little that could stop her. Family members will sorely miss their mother’s and grandmother’s advice on cooking, baking, and gardening, and her wisdom in family matters, as well as her ear to listen whenever a problem might arise. They will remember fondly many gatherings of the large clan, especially at Christmas time, when everyone would come from around the country to eat good food and reconnect. All the grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew where the dozens of kinds of homemade cookies and candy were found, to be eaten and then more taken home after the visit.

Maxine Secules is survived by a large and loving family: three siblings, Kenneth Eck (Nancy), Patricia Rushoe, and Cheryl Spencer; five children, Teresa (Cary Lepzelter), Tom (Karen), Dale (Emily), Denise Lorson (Bud), and Mike (Jody); fourteen grandchildren, Amy, Seth Lepzelter (Meredith Krug), David Lepzelter (Marion), Sarah Smee (Ryan), Betsy Kuhns (Jason), Stephen (Darryl Dickerson), Becky Richard (Tom), Daniel Lorson (Alexandra), Johnny (Camila Godoy), Ben Lorson (Alma), Chiara, Mary McCaslin (Matthew), Eric, Jim; and twenty great-grandchildren. Three other family members passed away before her: husband Lewis Secules, sister Virginia Fry, and grandson Christopher Secules (Jennifer Malinovsky). She will be missed by all.

The family would like to thank everyone at Wolf Run Village Assisted Living Center for their loving care over the past three years and UPMC Hospice Care for their care in her final days.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 557 E. Water St., Hughesville. The visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the memorial service.

The family will provide flowers. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Maxine’s name to LC Children’s Development Center scholarship fund at 1157 Market Street, Williamsport, PA 17701.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.mccartythomas.com.