Maxie Williams, 69, of Squaw Run Road, Ellwood City, passed away on Tuesday, July 7th at UPMC Mercy Hospital. Born on June 28, 1940 in Granite Falls, NC, Maxie was the son of the late William Thad and Mozelle Cozart Williams.

After graduating from Granite Falls High School, he served in the US Army from 1958-1961. Following that, he attended Southeastern Louisiana University on a football scholarship and later graduated. In 1965 he was drafted into the National Football League by the Houston Oilers. He played in Houston one year and then was taken in the expansion draft by the Miami Dolphins where he was an offensive lineman from 1966-1971.

From 1975 to 1977 Maxie was the director and head football coach at The Patterson School in Lenoir, NC. During this time, he was also the head coach of the semi-pro Caldwell County Bulldogs. From 1977 through 1979 he taught health and physical education at St. Paul School in Covington, LA and also was the head football coach. From 1979 to 1981 he taught and was the head football coach at Fike High School in Wilson, NC. Maxie taught and was the head football coach at Beaver Local High School in Lisbon, OH from 1981 to 1985. In 1985, Maxie began teaching and coaching at New Brighton High School. He served as the head football coach there until 1992 and later retired from teaching in 1995. He also was defensive line coach at Geneva College from 1992-1993. Most recently, Maxie was a volunteer football coach for the Ellwood City Wolverines.

Maxie was inducted into the Southeastern Louisiana Hall of Fame, the Caldwell County North Carolina Hall of Fame and was named by the AP North Carolina High School Division 4-A Coach of the Year for 1980.

In 1995 he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and started his career in fitness training at the Ellwood Family Center, later moving to the Shelby Building. He opened Maxie-Mum Fun and Fitness Center on Lawrence Avenue and; after selling that business, he continued teaching weight and toning classes and Silver Sneakers at Apple Rehabilitation in Ellport.

Maxie was a member of the NFL Players Association, NFL Alumni, the National Education Association and state education associations. He attended Holy Redeemer Church. Maxie enjoyed people and "working out his ladies" at the gym. He especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports.

He is survived by his wife, the former Karen Marino, whom he married July 4, 1981; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Caron Williams of Virginia Beach, VA, a daughter and son-in-law, Cara and Robert Freshcorn of Morgantown, WV, a son, Marc Williams of Mercer, PA, a daughter, Dawn E. Williams of Ellwood City, a daughter-in-law, Rebecca L. Williams of Georgetown, PA; eight grandchildren Shannon and Tim Freshcorn, Cody, Jordan, Gregg, Caitlyn, Trevor and Carson Williams; a sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Bert Dixon of Granite Falls, NC and two brothers and sisters-in-law Tony and Hilda Williams of Lutz, FL and Bob and Cheryl Williams of Advance, NC.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant grandson, Jake Williams.

Visitation was held at the Joseph A. Tomon, Jr. Funeral Home and Crematory, 97 Grim Avenue, Ellport on Thursday, July 9th from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday, July 10th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, July 11th at 10 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Church with Fr. Mark L. Thomas, celebrant. Entombment followed in Holy Redeemer Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Maxie Williams Athletic Scholarship Fund in care of ESB Bank. The family requests you view the obituary and sign the guestbook at http://www.tomonfuneralhome.com

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