Maxine D. Summers

Maxine D. Summers March 24, 1931 – January 6, 2025 “Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.” “Have faith in God, shake off excessive worry, and thank God ahead of time!” — Blessed Solanus Casey Maxine was born on March 24, 1931, in Hays, Kansas to Paul and Catherine Schumacher. She was 93 years old when she passed away on January 6, 2025. Maxine grew up in Hays, and graduated from Marion High School in 1949. She went on to get her Bachelors Degree at Fort Hays State University, and her Master’s Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Oklahoma State University (OSU). She worked in food service at OSU and trained/oversaw new dieticians. From her career at OSU she formed lifelong friendships with several of the dietitians. It was at OSU that Maxine met Dow Summers Jr and they were married September 5, 1966. Maxine was a loving wife and mother. She moved with her husband’s career over the years and touched many lives in several cities across New Mexico, Iowa and Kansas. She volunteered in the Catholic Church teaching CCD, lectoring, and in many other areas. Maxine was highly involved with her children in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouting and athletic actives over the years. She was smart, determined and had a great work and life ethic. Once Maxine had raised her children, she went back to work full time as a consulting dietician at small hospitals & nursing homes around southeastern Kansas. She enjoyed fishing, traveling, bowling, cross stich, reading, drawing and in later years her religious coloring books. Maxine also followed very closely Fr. Solanus Casey out of Detroit, MI; she loved the book “Thank God Ahead of Time: The Life and Spirituality of Solanus Casey” and she believed that if you thank God ahead of time God will be there for you. In the last year of Maxine’s life, she was on in-home hospice, under the care of Midland Care Hospice, Topeka, KS. She always had a wink and a smile for the nurses and aides coming every week to check on her and help Nancy with her. Everyone who met Maxine loved her and many would call her Mom. She touched many lives in her 34,257 days here on earth. Maxine is survived by her daughter Nancy Gargan (husband Bill); and son Dow Summers III (wife Kathy); and grandchildren, Corbett, Aidan, Victoria, Logan. She is preceded in death by her husband Dow Summers Jr, and her parents Paul and Catherine Schlyer Schumacher. Funeral Service, Mass of Christian Burial, will be celebrated at 10 am Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Topeka, KS with Fr. Thomas Maddock officiating. Committal service will follow at 3 p.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Hays, KS where Maxine D. Summers will be laid to rest. Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS is assisting the family. Anyone wanting to do something to honor Maxine’s memory, the family suggests donations be made to: • Midland Care Connection 1112 SW 6th Ave. Topeka, KS 66606 Or online a tribute gift in memory of Maxine Summers https://midlandcare.org/support-us/donate-online/ • Solanus Casey Center Attn: Br. Steve Kropp, Director 1780 Mount Elliott Street Detroit, MI 48207 Or Online a tribute gift in memory of Maxine Summers https://www.solanuscasey.org/donation/

Maxine D. Summers

March 24, 1931 - January 6, 2025