Wanita Mae Maynard

 Wanita Mae (Evans) Maynard was born on January 3, 1930 in a farmhouse in Beaver County. She was the only child of Paul and Lela Evans. Wanita grew up in the Dust Bowl days, living on a large farm where she loved to ride horses. She was proud to be a Beaver Duster. Her Uncle Richard Evans was the one who actually named the school mascot "The Beaver Dusters" when he was Beaver's School Superintendent. Wanita was an excellent student, played a clarinet in Beaver's high school band, and was a great basketball player.  When she was a senior in high school, she heard about a new soldier-boy in town who was good-looking and worked at the local drugstore in Beaver. This young serviceman she later married! His name was James Robert (Jim) Maynard. God gave Jim and Wanita 67 years together. To this marriage union were born Paula, Sheila, Steve, and Lois Jean (or Jeanie). Wanita and Jim's early years of marriage were spent as wheat and dairy farmers. At this time, Jim was a deacon at this church....the First Baptist Church in Beaver, Oklahoma. After God called Jim into the Gospel Ministry, Wanita encouraged him to go to college to be prepared for the ministry. So, they left the family farm, and Jim did graduate both from college and later seminary. Wanita worked to help with finances during a lot of Jim’s schooling. For her work, Wanita received an honorary "P.H.T Degree" from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, which stood for "Pushing Husband Through" when Jim graduated from seminary. Wanita lived her life as an example of a good and faithful wife, and servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. She displayed a sweet and kind spirit to those around her. She had a beautiful smile, and was an encouragement to so many. The phrase "prayer warriors“ symbolize Wanita and Jim Maynard. You could always call on them and ask them to pray for any specific prayer need. Every night, they prayed during their family devotions by name for every child, grandchild, and great grandchild of theirs by name. Wanita was a well-loved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed, but her family knows that they will see her again in heaven one day. Wanita is preceded in death by her parents Paul and Lela Evans, her grandpa W.P. Evans (who she was very close to and lived with her family until his death). She is survived by her loving husband Jim Maynard of Beaver, Oklahoma; her children Paula Maynard of Beaver, Oklahoma; Sheila (Maynard) Harrington of Atlanta, Georgia; Steve Maynard of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Jeanie Maxwell and her husband Dan of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Wanita's grandchildren include Conor Maynard and his wife, Annie, Israel Maxwell and his wife, April, Erin Harrington Henderson and her husband, Gary, Charity Maxwell, and Mark Maynard. Her great-grandchildren include Faith, Cole, Harrison, Ella, Maddie, Haley, Malaya, twins Ayden and Ansley and Miles. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.