Maisie M. Tevis

?Maisie Muriel Lopez, daughter of Gertie Lopez, was born in 1926, in Bangalore, India. Many have come to know her as "Flo", after Florence Nightingale, a nickname given to her by her friends in India. Flo came to the United States after falling in love and marrying Joseph “Joe” Tevis, a merchant marine who was in-port in India when they met. She then followed her beloved to the states with her son, Phillip Tevis, where Joe made the decision to settle down and retire so they could begin a new chapter of their lives together. They resided most of their years on Woodberry Street in Seabrook, Maryland, where Flo adopted her second child in August of 1963, Donna Tevis. Flo made a happy home and an incredible life for herself in Seabrook, where she became known as a second mom to the many children that had touched her heart. She created a heaven on earth for herself by surrounding herself with the smiles and laughter of neighboring children she cared for, for many many years. Flo, more than anyone, understood the value of friendships and surrounded herself with their love whenever possible. Whether she was sipping tea in the kitchen, or swapping stories on the front porch while enjoying a bowl of ice cream with Joe and one of the many household dogs, Flo loved having a full house so much so, that she and her husband became notorious for bringing anyone who wanted to join them to their vacation house in Nags Head. ‘The more the merrier’, truly were words that Flo lived her life by. Flo taught us that board games are a staple in life, Friday nights are a time to let your competitive side shine while playing poker with the girls, and that summers were meant to be spent at the beach. More importantly she taught us how to open our hearts to all, and that the meaning of family goes far beyond those who share our bloodlines. Her kindness and love for everyone she encountered has created a lifetime of wonderful stories for us to remember her by. Two years after Joe passed away in 2007, Flo was diagnosed with rapidly progressing dementia, which unfortunately took her beautiful mind and fun-loving spirit away from us years before her passing. She moved into an assisted living home in Beltsville, Maryland, where she left us peacefully on July 27, 2016. Flo is survived by her two children, Phillip and Donna Tevis, as well as her seven grandchildren, Bill Tevis, Laura Tevis-Miller, Rick and Joe Claburn, Tina Claburn-Guile, and Stephanie and Alexandra Saas. Flo also has six great-grandchildren as well as one great-great-grandchild who will remember her through the cherished stories told by loved ones who have, and will continue to carry on her legacy. Her great-grandchildren William Tevis, Kayla Claburn and her son Brycen Claburn, Justin Guile, Julia and William Claburn, and Grayson Saas have all been touched by Flo and will continue to carry a little bit of her forward into the world. The family would like to request, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Associations in memory of Maisie “Flo” Tevis. http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp