Jessie Maxine (Wait) Huck

On October 27, 1915, Maxine entered this world as the first child of John and Minnie (Sinkle) Wait. Her brothers and sisters were Ruth Smitherman, John Wait, Doris Riner, and Merle Wait. They were all born east of Protection. The family was active in the Baptist Church in Protection. Maxine and her sister Ruth accepted Christ at a revival on September 25, 1930 when she was 15 years old. Little did this teenage girl know that her decision would not only change her life, but would be a witness for Christ in the lives of many friends and relatives. She was baptized in the Protection Baptist Church where the family attended.
Following graduation from Protection High School in 1934, Maxine attended Fort Hays State College where she received her teaching certificate.
On May 14, 1939, she married Vernon Huck from Coldwater. They moved to the Buttermilk community south of Coldwater and both of them taught school. Vernon at Tin Top, and later Coldwater High School, and Maxine at the Rich, Prairie Queen, and Pleasant Valley schools. They later began raising a family and farming and ranching full time.
Born to them were Larry, Dennis, Bob, and Janice. The family remained in the Buttermilk community and raised their family where they were active in the Antioch Methodist Church, and were leaders of the Loyal Hustlers 4-H Club. Special memories were Sunday potluck dinners after church with the neighbors, and lots of baseball games.
In 1961, they bought the Briggs Ranch north of Protection where they lived for 15 years, and later bought the Briggs house in Protection, where she resided with Vernon until his passing in 1986. She remained there until 2006, when she decided to move into the Pioneer Lodge in Coldwater.
Preceding Maxine in death were her parents, John and Minnie, her husband Vernon, and her sister Ruth. Those who carry on her legacy are son: Larry and wife Gwen of Scott City; son: Dr. Dennis and wife Shirley of Coldwater; son Robert and wife Sherry of Coldwater; daughter: Janice Moore and husband Bucky of Protection. She dearly loved her 13 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, and prayed for them regularly as long as she was able.
Maxine was a member of the Protection United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women (where she held both local and conference offices), Pikeview E.H.U., P.E.O. Chapter D.M., Holmes Bible Study, and several bridge clubs.
Maxine loved family life and kept track of it in a daily diary – something she began doing as a teenager. She wrote that she and Vernon square danced about every Saturday night; they attended countless track meets, ball games, and livestock shows; loved taking the family boating at Fort Supply in the summer, and played a lot of bridge.
Maxine saw to it that the kids took piano lessons. The boys opted for other activities; fortunately she was rewarded by Janice's love for the piano. She loved to cook, play bridge, pitch, dominoes, make quilts, work in the church, participate in Bible studies, entertain family and friends, travel, grow roses, and make crafts. She always had craft projects for the grandkids to make at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
At the Pioneer Lodge, she was an encourager and was characterized by her positive attitude and her deep faith. Her gratitude was always expressed with "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
In her last few weeks, she loved to hear the Psalms and would often repeat them with you – especially the 23rd Psalm, which brought great comfort to her and her family. She would quietly sing along on favorite hymns of faith that Bucky recorded for her. Though she said little, her faith strengthened and blessed everyone around her.
When she graduated from this life on March 1, 2013, at the Comanche County Hospital in Coldwater, she fulfilled what she had written in two of her Bibles, "Death is Graduation Day for the Christian."

Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday (Family Will Be Present From 5-7) at Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, Coldwater, KS.Funeral service is at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Protection, KS, with Pastors Galen Huck, Dennis Carter, and Doug Johnson presiding. Burial will follow the service at Crown Hill Cemetery in Coldwater, KS.

Memorials may be sent to Southern Wind Special Olympics of Kansas, Pioneer Lodge, or Comanche County Hospital in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.