Maxine Betty Harrold

A legend of strength has consented to move on. After 95 years making her mark on Planet Earth, Maxine Betty Harrold spent 50 hours showing her mettle to the doctors in the hospital who’d given her eight. She died in her own good time Thursday, April 12, 2018, at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital surrounded by her family who will greatly miss her.
 

For those of you who didn’t know Maxine Harrold:  She was fearless.  She was always right. She corrected your grammar. She could not cook. She was a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, a wife, a partner, and for 21 years she powered Northern Michigan’s tourism industry at the helm of the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce.

The words of those who remember her tell it best:
    “She was something special. A tough cookie. One hell of a strong woman. A force to be reckoned with. Tenacious. Remarkable. One in a million.
   “She certainly embraced life, especially in her later years. She inspired us by finding love at 90. Maybe it was like getting back on a bike, which she also memorably did at 92, showing off for her partner and ending up in the hospital where the nursing staff was in awe.
    “She lived life on her terms and was quite funny, but could not tell a joke.
    “She definitely lived life to the fullest, a trait she shared with and passed down to her children and grandchildren. Strong women make strong women. Her legacy continues in all of the Harrold women.
    “Such a character Maxine was—and is. Hers is a presence that won’t soon fade, a force field that still will shine (and sass) widely through the whole Harrold family, carried on by the next generations.
    “A trailblazer for women in the workplace. Maxine ran the Chamber like no one else. Even her boss, Merle Lutz, was afraid of her. She could charm anyone, then explain to them why they were stupid—and they understood!
    “Maxine was awesome (and also scared the bejesus out of me!). One of the strongest ladies I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. She’s left a great legacy.
    “Lifting our glasses and toasting to the wind. Maxine had a spirit that will never fade.”
 

Maxine leaves a large and diverse extended family who will gather this summer to honor her.  As she would want, in lieu of memorial contributions, please support our local Petoskey economy.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maxine Betty Harrold, please visit our floral store.