Maxine Christensen Hanks

Maxine was born on November 4, 1925, in Honolulu, Hawaii to Arva Eunice Boothe and Elwood Lowell Christensen.

She was an island girl, through and through, and only left the Hawaiian Islands for college and then her marriage to Marion Duff Hanks (Duff). Mom had a deep connection and love for Hawaii, especially Hana, Maui. After traveling the world, the porch in Hana was their rest. She longed to hear of family telling her how much they also loved it. The phone call to her was the first thing we all did on arrival in Hana.

Maxine met Duff when he was in port in Honolulu during WWII. They took a hike to a waterfall in Manoa Valley and when Maxine's little sister Janet got tired, Duff carried her. When he didn't mind Janet's muddy feet getting on his navy whites, Maxine knew he was the one. They were sealed in the Laie, Hawaii LDS temple on August 27, 1949. He died in 2011.

After attending the University of Hawaii, Maxine graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Elementary Education. She taught school briefly before she and Duff began to raise a family.

Maxine and Duff built a beautiful life together. With grace and poise she let him shine because she loved him and knew he was everything she wanted.

Maxine created beautiful homes of refuge wherever she and Duff lived, whether it was Salt Lake City, London, Hong Kong, Hana, or Aspen Grove. Visitors were always welcome.

She was an initiative-taker and an organizer. She was bright, strong, competent, straightforward, and unafraid. She loved to laugh and she deeply loved her husband, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Maxine was rarely sentimental and she didn't look back. She loved beauty and uplifting things. She danced a beautiful hula.

There were always piles of books wherever Maxine was - history, biography, commentary, novels. She loved the Symphony, the Theatre, and the Opera.

She loved salads and turned up her nose at sugar. Her favorite treat was a ripe mango, a papaya, or an apple banana - although she loved a good hot dog. Dad once said in a letter to us from Hong Kong, "Mom reads voraciously and eats wisely and is otherwise a splendid example for the rest of us."

Maxine served with her husband as LDS Mission President in London, England, as Area President in Hong Kong, and as Matron of the Salt Lake Temple, and many other assignments. She was quietly and privately grounded, and saw life clearly as she stood by our father's side for over 65 years. She was a true believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mom left a legacy of five children: Susan (Paul) Maughan, Nancy (John) Baird, Ann (Spencer) Clawson, Mary (Chris) Clifford, and Richard (Liz) Hanks, 23 grandchildren and 69 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Lowell and Paul, her sister Janet, and by grandson Greg Clawson and great grandchildren Laird Thomas and Isaac Carlston.

Our family would like to thank Mom's many caregivers for their loving and gentle care. Also, the dear friends and neighbors who have helped mom over the years. They have become family to us.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March, 3 2018 at 11:00 at the LDS chapel located at 4568 S. Holladay Blvd, Holladay, Utah.

Visitations will be held at the chapel on Friday evening, March 2 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., and also on March 3 at the chapel from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Interment in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park (3401 S. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City).

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to the Marion D. and Maxine C. Hanks Foundation whose purpose is to financially lift those in need.