~ ~The Life of Maxine Houston Higerd Neville ~ ~

          Maxine was born to P.S. and Carrie Houston in 1914.  This happy event took place in their home in Gem Kansas.  She was the youngest of six children.  Brothers were Ross and Glen.  Sisters were Twila Harrison, Wanda Briggs and Ariel Dechert.

          Maxine attended the Gem Consolidated School, graduating in 1932. It was during her high school years that a dapper young man Carl Higerd (known as Dutch) caught her eye.  They married April 1939.  He was the love of her life and they made their home in Gem. When World War II happened, Dutch left for the service Dec 23rd 1942. He served in England and France.  Maxine, while anxiously waiting for his return, worked in the rations office in Colby.  She was so happy when Dutch returned home whole and healthy at the wars end. They made their home in Gem.  With the help of Dutch’s brother Roy Higerd, they began farming in the Gem area.

          One of the greatest sorrows of her life came when Dutch passed away in 1961.  After his death, when it was not socially acceptable, she became a farmer.  Dutch’s nephew, Larry Higerd, drilled her wheat before leaving for college that fall.  This began a working relationship that lasted 48 years.  In the 1960’s and 1970’s it was not unusual to see her in the field working summer fallow on a cabless tractor while Larry ate lunch, because if the sun was shining and the field was weedy the tractor could not stop.  J  Maxine worked in the field with Larry, and understood the hard work involved in making a living on the farm.  She was hard working and frugal in all of her business management.   She loved to sit by the field and watch the combines harvesting her wheat.  

1963 she married Dwight Neville, a widower, who had previously been a pastor in Gem.  They also made their home in Gem.  He passed away in the fall 1966.

For Maxine, farming became the 2nd passion in her life. In fact, May 1998, at the age of 84, Maxine was driving a big 4 wheel drive tractor across the field the day before she fell and broke her hip.  This brought an end to her tractor driving days.

One other strong element in Maxine’s life was her family.  When Twila passed away in 1999, Maxine kept a promise she had made to her.  She brought Leonard and Twila’s invalid son into her home.  And there she managed his care until his death on Valentine’s Day 2008.  She often spoke of a deep love for family and you do what you have to do.

Maxine had a core of strength in her that you seldom see today.  She never gave up and simply kept going because she made a promise to Twila to take care of Bob.   When Bob died, I think she was so tired and worn out.  (She was 94.)   She was heard to say she had kept her promise to Twila.  After that she would go for a ride in the country to see her wheat and be very happy.  But that was all we could get her to do.  If she decided she was not moving, she was NOT moving.  Unfortunately for Larry and me, 7 months later September 2008, Maxine passed away. 

Honesty, integrity, love of family and hard work were the things she lived by.

She spoke many times of when she and Dutch did not have 2 nickels to rub together.  They lived during the Depression. She saved because you did not know what tomorrow would bring.  You took care of your family.  Maxine lived comfortably but not extravagantly.  Because of this you are receiving the benefits of her hard work and frugality.  Therefore Larry and I exhort you to be wise as you accept and manage that which is given to you.

                                                  Kathren Higerd

                                                  December 2009