With family at her side, and escorted by angels, Mary Maxine (Morrill) Pokorski passed quietly from this life on Saturday evening October 19, 2019.

Born on July 4, 1925, to Joe McKinley Morrill and Rose Irene Sherlock Morrill in Bridgeport, Nebraska, she moved with the family (which also included older brother Mason) to Alliance, Nebraska.  She spent most of her life as wife to Steve (Sylvester) Pokorski and mother to Mary, Joe, Janet, and June.

Maxine attended both University of Nebraska and Chadron State College briefly as an art major before marrying Steve Pokorski on November 5, 1947.  Throughout her life, Maxine worked in oil paint and water colors, turning paper, canvas, boards, and rocks into works of art.  Much of her work was given to friends and family.

Maxine worked at the Guardian State Bank and Trust Co. from 1964-84.  She loved her work and her coworkers, many of whom became lifelong friends.

In recent years, Maxine had been living with her daughter and son-in-law Mary and Norman Running in Montgomery, Texas.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Steve, and daughter Janet Clarke, her parents, Joe and Rose Morrill, and her brother Mason Morrill.

She is survived by her children Mary Ann Running and husband Norman of Montgomery, Texas; Joe David Pokorski and wife Linda of Hot Springs, South Dakota; June Ilene Woods of Spring, Texas; and son-in-law Don Clarke of Houston.

Grandchildren include Mandy Pokorski of Glenwood, Iowa; David Pokorski of Hot Springs, South Dakota; Steven Lee Pokorski-Doobin of New York City, New York; Jonathan Running of Dallas, Texas; Kyrsten (Running) Nixon of Conroe, Texas and Logan Woods of Spring, Texas.

In addition to great-grandchildren Savannah, Connor, Jonathan, Megan, Macy, Oden, Kyla, and Abigail, she is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.


"And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."



Internment services for Maxine Pokorski will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota on Friday November 1, at 2 pm.