Lillian Maxine (Max) Hatley passed away at the Pullman WA Regional hospital Friday March 27, 2026 at the age of 89. Maxine was a cherished mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She was born November 27, 1936 to Harold and Francis Finney Knight in Kamiah, ID. The oldest of four, she and her family moved to the Puget Sound area where her father worked in the shipyards during the war years. In 1947 the family moved back to the Woodland/Kamiah area where she attended school through eighth grade in a one room schoolhouse. As the school did not go past the eighth grade the family relocated to Lewiston ID where Maxine graduated from Lewiston High. It is in Lewiston where she met her husband Melvin O. Hatley. The couple were married on June 3, 1956. Together they ran a print shop and ultimately welcomed five children. They eventually settled on a small farm between Colfax and Garfield WA. In 1983 Maxine began working at the Colfax School District where she worked in both the middle and high school cafeterias until her retirement. During the summer harvests she split her time driving grain trucks and canning fruit and vegetables from the garden.

Maxine was a dedicated homemaker, a nurturing wife, and a cherished mother whose primary focus was creating a warm and comfortable home for her family. She loved to read, sew, quilt and bake and often filled the home with comforting scents of fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls. Maxine filled her time with kids’ activities from FFA events and sports practices and games. Maxine loved her quiet peaceful life on the small farm. Watching wildlife and taking care of the family pets filled her time until she moved to Regency in Pullman WA where she resided for the last nine years.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, Melvin Hatley, her parents Harold and Francis Knight, her sister Harriet (Jo) Wehnes and her brother Monte Knight. Maxine is survived by her sister Darlene Clark, her children, Jerry, Roger and Steven Hatley, Tammy Decapua and Theresa Bowers, 11 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank staff members at both Regency and Pullman Regional for their excellent care of our beloved Mother.

Memorial and graveside services will be planned for later this spring. Corbeill Funeral Home of Pullman, WA has been entrusted with arrangements.