Maxine Darst Flatt

Maxine Darst Flatt Maxine Darst Flatt, age 95, passed away in a Dallas hospital on November 7, 2025, following a short illness. Visitation will be held Thursday, November 13, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Max Slayton Funeral Home, 642 N. Rockwall Ave, Terrell, TX. Memorial service will be Friday, November 14, 2025 at 2:00 pm at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 702 N. Frances St, Terrell, TX. A private interment will be held at Oakland Memorial Park in Terrell. Evelyn Maxine Valentine was born August 25, 1930 in Edgewood, TX to Thomas Jefferson and Oma Lee (McEnturff) Valentine. She and her parents and brother, John, moved to Terrell, TX when she was a small child and she attended Terrell public schools. In high school, she was a Class Favorite, majorette, member of the tennis team and she graduated from Terrell High School in 1947. She attended North Texas State University for one year before marrying Joseph Frederick Darst of Terrell. Fred and Maxine had two daughters, Mary and Martha. In 1957, with two young daughters at home, she resumed her studies at Henderson County Junior College, now Trinity Valley Community College, and in 1985 she was honored by her alma mater by being named an Outstanding Ex-Student of TVCC. In 1966, she continued her non-traditional role as a student by commuting to Commerce, TX to East Texas State University (now East Texas A&M University), completing her degree in 1970. In 1972, she was admitted by the Texas Bar Association into the Independent Law Office Study Program. She studied under the direction of three attorneys and after completing the prescribed course of study, she took the Bar Exam and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1976. She was the first woman in Kaufman County to be a licensed attorney. In 1981, after five years of law practice with her husband Fred, she was appointed Terrell Municipal Judge. Two years later, she was elected Kaufman County Judge, a position she held for 16 years and she was the first woman to hold this office in Kaufman County. In addition, she became one of the longest serving judges in Kaufman County history. As chief administrator of the county, she was responsible for adopting budgets and securing funding for all county services, in addition to addressing a multitude of county legal issues. Accomplishments during her tenure as Kaufman County Judge include the automation of integration of the various county departments; the construction of a new Law Enforcement Center; the construction of a County Children’s Shelter; the hiring of a chief juvenile probation officer and a juvenile probation officer. Also during this time the sub-courthouses in Terrell and Forney were improved and enlarged, and a new sub-courthouse was built in Kemp. Judge Darst served in a number of government-related, civic and professional organizations. She served as President of the North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association, the Women and the Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Kaufman County Bar Association. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of Counties, the Texas Association of Counties Judicial Education Committee and was a trustee on the Texas County and District Retirement System Board. Additionally, she was a regional member of the Texas Constitutional Revision Committee. She was active with the Kaufman County Child Welfare Board, Terrell Pilot Club, the Girl Scout Little House Board, and the Social Science Club of Terrell. Her husband, Fred Darst, passed away in 1988 and she retired in 1998. In 2000, she married Douglas Flatt, a friend since high school, who lived in Tyler, TX - beginning a wonderful new chapter in her life. She moved to Tyler and enjoyed traveling with Doug and serving the Tyler community by serving on many volunteer boards, and in clubs and organizations, including the East Texas Symphony Board, Tyler Sister Cities Board, University of Texas – Tyler Development Board and the East Texas A&M University Foundation Board of Directors. Doug passed away in 2020 and in 2023, she moved to Dallas where she enjoyed being closer to her daughters. She lived at The Tradition Lovers Lane, where she made many new, wonderful friends. Survivors include daughters Mary Kling and Martha Darst, both of Dallas, grandson Jason Evans and wife Haleh of Calabasas, CA and their son Samuel, step-son Darrell Flatt and wife Donna of Tyler and their children John and Madeline, many nieces, nephews, and very cherished friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those who wish to make a donation contribute to the Terrell Heritage Museum, (207 N. Frances St, Terrell, TX 75160 or at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/c9d5983d-3180-4873-9329-b29dd4d3fbc6 ) the Terrell ISD Excellence Foundation, (700 N. Catherine St, Terrell, TX 75160 or at https://www.terrellexcellencefoundation.org/in-honor-memory ) or a charity of your choice. It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, but we are proud of the meaningful life she led and the loving example she provided for us. She had the flexibility and intelligence to enjoy traditional roles as well as professional ones, and to take advantage of new opportunities that were offered to her. She embraced every chance to explore the world, forming lasting memories with family and friends. She visited 48 states in the United States and 39 countries, with plans to visit many more. She was dearly loved and will be missed forever.

Tributes

Maxine Darst Flatt

August 25, 1930 - November 7, 2025