Eula F. Wainscott

Her adventure began November 1, 1927. Eula F. Rains was born in rural Oklahoma to Orvalle and Alta Rains. She was the shy but spunky sister to Wayne and Raymond, as well as Alvin Conner, a cousin who was raised with her like a brother. The family later moved to Arkansas City, Kansas, “Ark City” where Eula graduated from high school in 1945. Her teachers described her as conscientious, courteous and “an admirable citizen.”

Eula married Raymond Max Wainscott (“Max”) in 1947. They had three children: Linda Cheryl (b. 1948), Michael Max (1949-2000), and Douglas Dee (b. 1950). The family moved around the Midwest and West, following business opportunities and the many adventures and escapades that came with them.

In the early years of their marriage, Max worked as an electrical lineman. During that time, he, Eula and the three kids lived in a small mobile home and traveled with other families from state to state where the men installed power lines. Eula said she didn’t mind that “gypsy” lifestyle.

Colorado played a big role in the young family’s life, and the kids recall their Colorado years fondly. The family had a lot of friends. The kids did well in school. Eula shared many funny stories from the days when the couple ran a Dairy King restaurant in the town of Swink. It was a hard-working lifestyle for Eula and Max, but for the kids it was an idyllic time.

Max started a couple of different mining operations in Colorado. On one occasion, he went to inspect a mine while Eula and the kids explored the area. They happened upon a Fish and Game truck that was stocking a stream with trout. The kids had their fishing poles out in a flash, but they hadn’t brought bait. The only available bait was grasshoppers in the weeds, and Eula became the head hopper-hunter. She scurried around, trying to catch them as they flew from weed to weed, bush to bush. She must’ve done alright, because the kids caught a mess of fish. They took them back to the cabin and had a fish fry that afternoon. It was a good day. Another Eula adventure.

In 1965, Eula found herself in a role she didn’t sign up for: widow. Max died of Leukemia in January of that year, leaving Eula the sole provider and parent to three teenage kids. She devoted herself to her family and gave 100% to everything she did.

Always a hard worker, Eula built a successful career in real estate as a closing agent. Her dedication and sharp mind earned her a reputation as the best closing agent in Kansas City. Builders would insist she handle their closings. She knew settlement statements forward and back. She remembered and understood complicated and obscure rules. She solved problems others were stumped by. She calculated every last penny manually — in the days before computer software did the work for you. And she was too funny and quick-witted for anyone to push around.

She was a 5-foot-two dynamo.

Eula never remarried. Linda, Mike and Doug did go on to marry and brought a total of 8 grandkids into Eula’s life: Christi, Cheryl, Shauna, Cierra, Nichole, Natalie, Jake and Nick. At the time of her passing, Eula also had 11 great-grandchildren.

When she became a grandmother at 39, Eula said she was too young to be called “Grandma” and declared herself Grammy instead. The name stuck… until she became a great-grandmother. Her first great-granddaughter, too young to repeat “sweetie pie,” just called her Pie. That one stuck too. Eula signed birthday cards as Grammy and as Pi, always with a smiley face. And yes, she chose to spell Pi like the mathematical term.

Her house was the place where family gathered the most. Outdoors, she nurtured plants and maintained an immaculate yard. Inside, she kept everything clean and tidy. Nobody knows where she got the energy, but she was full of it. She hosted birthday parties, holiday feasts, back yard barbeques, and sleepovers with the grandkids “just because.” She was a great cook, whether it was pot roast with all the trimmings, fried chicken, or her legendary pancakes.

Known for her quick wit and sense of humor, Eula was the queen of spontaneous rhymes, puns and word play. Whether they were hilarious or cheesy, her quips were fast. Before most people recognized the humor or irony in a scenario, she had taken it in and spit out a clever one-liner. Even as dementia took its merciless toll on her mind, Eula surprised and entertained everyone around her with her funny sayings.

We will miss her for these and countless other things. She will forever be in our memories, and we will hold them close.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal. —Irish Proverb