Ryan Mortuary & Crematory | Reba Maxine Applebee-Porter obituary

Reba Maxine Applebee-Porter

June 10, 1923 - January 4, 2009

Maxine Porter, of Salina, formerly Holly Lake Ranch, TX went to be with the Lord on January 4th, 2009. She was 85. Maxine is survived by Richard F. ‘Dick’ Porter, her husband of 62 years; a daughter Barbara Clare (Dennis) of Delton, MI; a son Douglas Porter of Salina; three grandchildren, Heather Rising of Mt. Pleasant, MI; Stephen Rising of Delton, MI and Courtney Rising of Southlake, TX and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by a brother, Gail Applebee of Beloit and her parents, Otis and Etta Calder-Applebee of Glen Elder.

Maxine was born on June 10, 1923 and grew up in rural Jewell County, Ks. Her love of dancing was inspired by the “barn dances” she attended as a child with her parents growing up. She graduated from Athens Rural High School in 1941 and attended Brown Mackie College in Salina. She worked in retail in Beloit & Concordia until marrying Dick on March 10, 1946. In 1951 Maxine and Dick moved to Hill City, KS. They adopted their two children in 1956 and 1959. From 1964 until Dick’s retirement with Mobil Pipeline Company in August of 1982, they lived in Tripoli, Libya, North Africa two different times, a brief stay in Sweetwater, TX and two times in Midland TX, a brief stay for Maxine and the children in Beloit, KS, Anchorage, AK, Wichita, KS, Dallas, TX and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

When they retired, they moved to Holly Lake Ranch in East Texas and enjoyed a life rich with family & friends. Maxine’s favorite pastimes were golfing, dancing, music, shopping, cooking, crocheting & traveling. During their 22 year retirement in Holly Lake, Maxine and Dick made many close, lasting friendships. In 2004 they decided to move back to their roots in North Central Kansas.

Maxine always looked forward to seeing her grandchildren and the many years of Easter egg hunts around their house in Holly Lake. In 1997 she and Dick took the grandkids on a trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee for a trip that none of them would ever forget. Wonderful memories were made with other travels and visits with Heather, Stephen and Courtney.

Maxine will be most remembered for her never-ending patience, pleasant demeanor, lively conversation and a quiet, yet contagious laugh. Times with family & friends were precious. No matter where they lived, Maxine loved making a home for her family and her nurturing spirit and wisdom will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

A memorial service and celebration of Maxine’s life will be held at the Methodist Church of Glen Elder, KS, 116 Nash Street, Glen Elder, 67446 at 1:00pm on Friday, January 9. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the church in her honor.