Reverend Maynard Arthur Nutting

Following a spectacular sunset at the top of Paris Mountain on February 4, Maynard Arthur Nutting was lifted from his frail earthly body into the arms of Jesus, the Savior he had loved and served for his entire life. He took his last peaceful breath with his two youngest daughters holding his hands and telling him how much they loved him.
Maynard was born to Leroy and Olive Kimball Nutting in 1931 in Dexter, Maine. The second of eight children, he grew up in a farmhouse in the woods, learning to hunt deer, to cut timber in the woods with his older brother, and carpentry skills from his father who also worked at a nearby mill. With eight mouths to feed during the depression years, his family struggled to make ends meet, so he decided as a child to become a wealthy eye doctor when he grew up.
He had the brains and discipline to follow through with that goal, but all of those ambitions changed when as a freshman at opening services at Bob Jones University, Maynard decided instead to follow Jesus into the ministry and train to become a pastor. As a child, he had come to the understanding that like every other person on earth, his very best was not good enough to get him to heaven, but Jesus had paid the price for his sins so that he could be sure of eternal life. This pivotal early decision and later resolution to follow God's leadership into the ministry as a preacher was a game changer for his entire life and for the lives of so many who were impacted by his ministry.
After graduating high school, Maynard traveled to South Carolina to attend Bob Jones University, where he studied history and Bible in preparation for becoming a preacher of the gospel. After graduation, he stayed on as a graduate assistant while pursuing a master's degree. During this time, he met and married the love of his life, a clever, pretty, red head named Marguerite. He never strayed in his love and devotion to her, and she loved him back with the same devotion.
Together, they started a little church in the mountains of North Carolina. As the church grew, Maynard used his carpentry skills to help build their first building. Soon, there was a Christian school operating, also. All four of their daughters were born during the ten years of their ministry at Mountain Home Bible Church.
When God called Maynard and Marguerite to move their family across the entire country to Huntington Beach, California, He kept them safe through some life-threatening situations that made great stories to tell during later years. After nurturing a small church plant there for three years, God called them to Iowa, then Michigan, and finally for many years in Indiana, where even after supposedly retiring from the ministry, they started one more little church.
At each church, they left devoted friends and changed lives in their wake, souls saved for Christ or re-dedicated to Him. Those believers went on to follow Jesus and encouraged others to follow Jesus. Only in eternity will the ripples of their ministry be fully known, and surely their rewards in heaven will be great!
Maynard was an outstanding, dedicated pastor at the churches where he served. He spent hours each week praying, researching, and outlining in preparation for his weekly sermons. Because of this, he was a practical, engaging teacher and preacher, but he also cared about the members of his churches. Every single afternoon, he visited the sick, some who were in the hospital and the elderly who were home bound and invited newcomers to attend services.
Many of his friends and family appreciated Maynard's quick sense of humor. He loved telling and hearing a good joke, but he was also naturally funny with clever quips, silly sarcastic comments and funny remarks. His four daughters were his biggest fans and laughed the loudest, while his long-suffering wife was sometimes a little less appreciative of the non-stop "dad humor."
Loving music as he did, especially music that worshiped and glorified the Lord, Maynard sang in the choir at church and frequently wished for a better voice, but he also sang around the house. Even into his mid-nineties during the weeks before his death, when the pain from his cancer was great, his daughter would often still hear him singing hymns to the Lord he loved. He passed on this love of singing and music to all four of his daughters.
Although his ministry took him far from his alma mater, Maynard remained connected to Bob Jones University. Many teens from churches where he ministered, attended, and graduated from BJU. He often returned for Bible Conferences through the years and remained steadfast in his gratitude and loyalty toward the school where he received his training.
Maynard had a passion for Christ and his church, but he never neglected his family to serve others. He was an affectionate husband and father who cherished his wife and all four daughters, hugging us frequently and telling us often that he loved us with both words and actions. He was a fun dad who obviously enjoyed spending time with us. Never was there even a hint from him that he wished any of us had been a son. He adored us, and we adored him right back!
In later years, his grandchildren were cherished in the same way. He had a way with them even as tiny babies. They would gaze into his face and just stop crying. Later, they loved the silly (and sometimes wild) games he would play with them.
Dad loved his family with an unselfish love that is rare. Instead of buying himself new cars, cool guy toys, or nice vacations, from the time we were tiny, he and Mom scrimped on luxuries for themselves and saved for our college educations. Because of this, we all learned to work hard, to save money, and we all graduated from Bob Jones University with no loans or debts.
In addition to loving music, loving to laugh, enjoying hard work and embracing frugality, we learned so many other valuable lessons from Dad, too many to continue listing! Without a doubt, though, the best lesson of all was that we learned to love Jesus. In a world with too many unreliable men, our dad was a rock, standing firm for Jesus, faithfully loving his wife, and leading his children to be the same kind of Christians, not just with the words he said but with the example he set.
Maynard is survived by his four daughters, Diane (married to David Scudder), Sherilyn (married to the late Dennis Thompson), Elaine (married to the late Bill Landreth), and Lorraine (married to Philip Walker); Also by his grandchildren, Diane's children-Daniel (Becky) Scudder, Derick (Sarah) Scudder, Douglas Scudder, and Darla Scudder; Lorraine's children- Andy (Rachel) Walker, Ben Walker, Sarah Walker, Abby (Andrew) Wood, and Emily Walker; Thirteen great grandchildren; and many nieces/ nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Bethel Chapel Church 4028 K Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124.
The family will receive friends at Faith Baptist Church in Taylors from 11:15 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. on February 11, 2025, with funeral service to follow at 12:30 p.m. Graveside service for family and close friends in Mountain View Memorial Park in Travelers Rest.
Family and friends who are unable to attend the service can view the Livestream by clicking on the "WATCH EVENT" button located in the Services section.]
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Maynard with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".