With heavy hearts and deep love, we announce the passing of Somer Leigh Maples, 46, of Wichita,
Kansas, who passed away peacefully at home on December 4, 2025. Somer was born on September 29, 1979, in Abilene, Texas, to Michael W. Watkins and Joyce Denise Watkins. From the very beginning, Somer carried a gentle spirit, a compassionate heart, and a warmth that made people feel at home in her presence. She lived a life rooted in love, kindness, and devotion to those she held dear.
Above all else, Somer loved her family. She was a devoted wife to her husband, Hubert W. Maples, and a deeply loving mother to Whitney, Drake, Natalie, and Valery Maples. Her family was the center of her world, and she poured her heart into every moment spent with them. Whether through the meals she prepared, the laughter shared around board games, the memories made on drives through the country, or the quiet comfort of simply being together, Somer made ordinary moments feel extraordinary.
Somer earned her Associate's Degree from Amarillo College and spent her career as a daycare provider, where her natural gift for caring for children touched countless lives. She had a rare and beautiful way of making others feel safe, seen, and loved. Her patience, tenderness, and nurturing soul were not only evident in her work, but in every part of her life.
She found joy in the simple things that made life beautiful, traveling, cooking, scrapbooking, crafting, and creating lasting memories with those she loved. She had a creative spirit and a heart that delighted in preserving the special moments of life. She was also a faithful member of Harbor Church, where her presence reflected the same grace and kindness she carried everywhere she went.
Somer was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Joyce Denise Watkins, whose love she carried with her always.
She leaves behind a family who will forever cherish her memory: her loving husband, Hubert W.
Maples; her children, Whitney, Drake, Natalie, and Valery Maples; her father, Michael W. Watkins;
her brother, Matt Watkins; her sister, Rebecca Smith; along with many extended family members and dear friends who were blessed to know and love her. Though her time here feels far too short, the love Somer gave so freely will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be remembered for her gentle strength, her caring heart, her unwavering love for her family, and the quiet beauty she brought into the lives of others. Her absence leaves an ache that words cannot fully express, but her memory will remain a source of comfort, love, and light.
A memorial service to celebrate and honor Somer's life will be held on March 28th at 11:00 a.m. at Baker Funeral Home West, 3224 N. Tyler Rd., Wichita, KS 67205. Forever loved. Deeply missed. Always remembered.