Olive Maxine Book Henderson was born on April 22, 1924 in Rush Colorado; the 11th child of Jesse Frank and Olive Book.  Jesse and Olive Book homesteaded in Rush in the early 1900's, having come in a covered wagon from Western Kansas.  The family (to this day) raises cattle on those lands. Maxine was the first member of her family to matriculate to college.  She entered The University of Colorado (Boulder) in the fall of 1942 and graduated with a BA in 1946.  While an undergraduate Maxine met the young United States Naval officer from Westchester New York who would eventually become her husband.  William Henderson III was attending a Japanese language program administered by the US Navy prior to his deployment to the Pacific as a naval intelligence officer. After her graduation and while he was still stationed in Japan Maxine moved to Schenectady, NY to work for General Electric Company.  After his return from Japan in 1947 they settled in Manhattan where she lived until her death.  In the late 1950's they also began commuting each weekend to a second home on Long Island; first in the house that is immediately adjacent to the St. James Episcopal Church, and then for many years to their weekend residence in Nissequogue. Maxine is survived by her two children William and Meredith, and by her two grandchildren Alexander and Avery.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.