Maxine Leonora (Harris) Brooks died December 1, 2010.

She was born April 26, 1928, at Eureka, the daughter of Delbert M. and Florence McCaffree Harris.

She was in the first grade when her family moved to Cheney, Kansas. She graduated from Cheney High School in 1946 and from Friends University, Wichita in 1950. She was a home economics teacher. She taught a year each at Copeland and Utica, Kansas. Thereafter she taught as a substitute as time would allow.

On June 3, 1952, she married Methodist pastor, the Rev. Robert B. Brooks at Cheney, Kansas. From that time on she graced the parsonage homes in the communities where her husband served, they included Marquette, Plains, Haysville, Pratt, Abilene, Asbury UMC in Wichita, Augusta and Goddard all in Kansas. Following her husband's retirement they lived for 20 years in their own home in Hutchinson.

She was a life-long member of Methodist churches. Most recently this was First United Methodist Church of Hutchinson, Kansas. She was always active in serving wherever needed in the church. She served as a volunteer for many years at The Wesley Towers Retirement Community in Hutchinson.

Maxine was a quilter. Her hobby of quilting was a life-long, but highly developed in the last 30 years. She was for years a member of Prairie Quilt Guild in Wichita, the Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Rice County in Lyons and the Heart of Kansas Quilt Guild in Hutchinson. She thrived on the special friendships that grew through quilting activities.

She is survived by her husband Robert B. "Bob" Brooks; daughter, Janet E. Boroughs and husband David, Lyons, Kansas; son, the Rev. Gary R. Brooks and wife Jeanne, Wichita, Kansas; four granddaughters, Elizabeth C. Peterson and husband Matthew, Kristi M. Brooks and fiance Michael Dau, Kari E. Brooks and Kelli A. Brooks; three great-grandchildren, Emma C. Peterson, Gage A. Wood and Hannah A. Dau; a sister, Marjorie L. Harris, Houston, Texas; two brothers, Kenton Harris and wife Kay, Friendswood, Texas, and Leland Harris and wife Sharon, Costa Rica. She was preceded in death by a brother Richard and his wife Rosemary.

Her funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 6, 2010, at First United Methodist Church, First and Walnut, Hutchinson with Reverend Mark Conard officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with family present 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday all at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorial gifts may be made to Wesley Towers Brooks Chaplaincy Fund in care of the mortuary.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave her family a condolence or remembrance.