Obituary of Phyllis Mae Mauck

Phyllis Mae Mauck passed away peacefully, July 3, 2015 at the Lincoln Community Care Center. Phyllis Mae Mauck was born January 9th, 1918 at home on the family farm near the small town of Lerado in Reno County Kansas. Her parents were Phillip A. Mauck and Bessie (Holmes) Mauck. Phyllis Mae lived with her family on that farm until the early 1950’s when she moved with her mother to the Limon, Colorado area which became her home for the rest of her 97 years. Her last years were spent in care facilities in Limon and Hugo, Colorado. After Phyllis Mae completed her eighth grade education in a one room country school, she continued her life of service to her family. She helped care for the six younger children and assisted her mother with the large gardens and with the cooking and cleaning necessary for raising a large family on a Kansas wheat farm. She enjoyed participating in Home Demonstration Units, and in senior social and service organizations as well as church activities where she was a loyal and active member as long as she was able. Phyllis Mae’s greatest service was her care and unconditional devotion to her mother, Bessie, both at home and at the nursing home. During the four years that Bessie was in the nursing home, each day saw Phyllis Mae at her mother’s bedside, reading to her and keeping her company. After her mother’s death in 1983, Phyllis Mae continued to volunteer her services at the Home. Love of her family, especially the babies and little ones, characterized Phyllis Mae’s life. She enjoyed family events, planning and hosting many family reunions. Phyllis Mae was known for her tasty angel food cakes and for the crocheted house slippers that she made for family and friends. Phyllis Mae loved reading, making good use of the Lincoln County mobile library. Her determination and persistence helped her to overcome limitations, enabling her to live alone and make a good life for herself. Church was an important part of Phyllis Mae’s long life, beginning with her membership in the small country Methodist Church near her home in Kansas. She joined the Limon Methodist Church where she loved Sunday School and being part of her United Methodist Women’s group. Phyllis Mae was proud of her age, especially when her relatives gathered in Limon to honor her ninetieth birthday. She is survived by four siblings: Kenneth Mauck, Henry Mauck, Elaine Applegate, Melba Treaster and her sister-in-law, Christine Mauck. Preceding her in death were her parents, Phillip and Bessie Mauck, three siblings; Lois, Beulah, Howard Mauck who died in infancy, her brother Kenton Mauck and sister, Marjorie McKinney, three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law. Of the nieces and nephews whom she cherished so much, fourteen survive along with many great nieces and nephews.