ST. MARY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: DOMINO, MAXINE BIRD WELLS Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: Franklin Banner-Tribune, Morgan City Daily Review; St. Mary Parish, La. Died: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= DOMINO, MAXINE BIRD WELLS August 27, 1923 — January 21, 2014 ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/stmary/obits/dateobits/2014/sm1401.htm and click on the name of interest. ========== Maxine Bird Wells Domino, of Palestine, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Palestine. Arrangements were under the direction of Bailey & Foster. She was born on Aug. 27, 1923, in Nacogdoches County to Albert Herman and Bessie Barrett Bird. She attended Central Heights School and graduated as valedictorian of the 1941 class. While in high school she was elected president of the junior and senior classes, selected as junior class favorite and editor of the yearbook. As a senior she was voted the student with the most school spirit and the best girl athlete, serving as captain of the basketball and volleyball teams. She married Durward Wells, also of Central Heights, April 5, 1942. Mr. Wells was then serving as a Master Sergeant in the United States Army Air Force. Following the death of her husband in 1958, Mrs. Wells returned to school earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University while working part time at both Commercial National Bank and The Daily Sentinel in Nacogdoches. She received Stephen F. Austin’s Texas Power and Light graduate award for scholarship and contribution to the university and was elected to membership in Alphi Chi. She began graduate work attending the University of Wisconsin, Syracuse University where she was a Wall Street Journal Newspaper Fund Fellow and later completed coursework for the PhD at the University of Missouri. While attending the University of Missouri she received several academic honors including Tri- Penta (women with cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above), Kappa Tau Alpha (top 10 percent of PhD class), and Chi Omicron Mu (distinguished research). She began her teaching career at Angelo State University in San Angelo where she was the chairman of the Department of Journalism. She moved to Morgan City in 1971 where she established an advertising and public relations firm serving area businesses, hospitals and political campaigns for over 30 years. She also served as bureau chief for the New Orleans Times Picayune for a time as well as publishing a literary magazine writing numerous articles, and a novel. In addition, she was an adjunct professor at Nicholls State University. She married Frank J. Domino Sr. of Morgan City in 1974. In 2010, she moved to Palestine. Her social and civic responsibilities included Morgan City Rotary Club, where she was the first female member, a Paul Harris Fellow, board member of the East St. Mary Chamber of Commerce, East St. Mary Industrial Group, Advisory Board for the Young Memorial Vocational School, Petroleum Club of Morgan City and Patterson Garden Club. Mrs. Domino always had a love of learning and was excited to see students excel and begin their careers. In her advertising agency, she was dedicated to helping businesses grow and political candidates share their vision for the future with their constituents. She loved to travel and experience different cultures and visited countries throughout the world. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Durward Wells and Frank J. Domino Sr.; daughter, Brenda Wells Williams; son-in-law, Keene Williams; brothers, Edwin Bird, Clyde Bird and Carl Bird; brother-in-law, Glen F. Wells; sisters-in-law, Florence Bird and Lessie Wells Watkins; and a brother-in-law, Eugene Watkins. She is survived by her son, Dr. Albert D. Wells, DDS, and wife, Brenda, of Palestine; grandchildren, Samuel D. Wells and wife, Ammie, of Elkhart, Darla Hoover and husband, Cory, of Kingwood, Melissa Young and husband, Bruce, of Spring and Rachel Walters and husband, Dave, of Willis; and 12 great- grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Latham H. Wells of Shreveport; sisters-in-law, Omie Dell Harrod of Lone Star, Juanita Bird of Frankston and Sue Bird of Dandridge, Tenn.; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the residents and staff of Cartmell Home For the Aged and Dogwood Trails Assisted Living for their friendship and caring for our mother and the staff at Palestine Regional Medical Center for their kindness. The family requests memorials be made to St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. ===================