Donald "Don" Lee Maxwell

Donald “Don” Lee Maxwell, 79, of Alma, Kansas, formerly of the Admire, Kansas area, passed away at the Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community, Stolzer House, on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. Don was born June 24, 1932, in rural Americas, Kansas the son of Vernon H. and Lois A. (McAuley) Maxwell. He attended schools in the Admire area before graduating from Admire High School in 1950. On March 1, 1956 he married Shirley I. Thomas in Emporia, Kansas, she survives of the home. Don was a farmer and stockman. He started farming the family farm when he was only 10 years old. Also while growing up he worked wheat harvest in Western, Kansas, worked for a filling station in Allen, Kansas and also hauled coal. In 1963 Don purchased his own farm North of Admire. While running his own farm and dairy he worked for Penny Ready Mix delivering cement, hauled gravel for both Shorty McNight and Dayle Boosinger, hauled cattle, did custom farming for Buster Wheat and also milked cows for Sweet Dairy. After his retirement in 2000 he and his wife Shirley moved to Alma, Kansas. Don was a member of the Admire United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Maris des Cygne Water Shed. Don enjoyed fishing and loved helping others. Most of all he loved spending time and doing things with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; one son: Terry G. Maxwell and wife Tina, of Evans, CO; one daughter: Joyce A. Eckelberry and husband Jeff, of Alma, KS; three sisters: Dolores Mann (Richard), Sandra Schroeder and Judy Moore (James); one brother: V. Dean Maxwell; eight grandchildren: Ryan and Sherri Maxwell, Stacy and Lindsey Maxwell, Scott, Mark and wife Katie, Ben and wife Lyndsi and Alana Eckelberry; one step-grandchild: Liza Jeffers; one great-grandchild: Teagan Maxwell and one step-great-grandchild: Zayla Enfield. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Rodney L. Maxwell in 2010 and an infant sister, Myrna M. Maxwell. Cremation has taken affect. A memorial service for Mr. Maxwell will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, November 11, 2011 at the Admire United Methodist Church, in Admire, KS, with Pastor Kim Benson officiating. Private inurnment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the American Diabetes Association, Alzheimer’s Association or the Admire United Methodist Church and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Alma, P.O. Box 126, 66401.