Johnny Earl Maxwell: "Mr W.A. and Mrs. Thelma's Boy"

Johnny Earl Maxwell (9/20/1940 to 7/2/2020)

“Mr. W.A. and Mrs Thelma’s boy”

The above quote was from one of Dad's growing up friends, I think it was the younger brother of Thurman and Herman Moseley. Either way it's a very fitting description of John Maxwell. Here is a sort of memorial tale of my Dad. They wouldn't let me use it as the Obituary, but I like the story.

Joel, visited the last two weeks to help with things and we had LOTS of laughs with Dad, talking about old times. Joel cooked for him, and fixed him coffee and got him whatever else he wanted. Dad loved it. Duh. And I loved that he kept things cleaned up. 

Camellia called him on his last day and of course, he asked about Katie, one of his “favorite” grandkids. He lived with Camellia for the last 10 years or more. She took care of him, his only daughter, and the one most like him. So, he was very close to Danielle and Katie, seeing them, and hugging them about every day. And his favorite son-in-law, Steve, checked on Dad regularly while he was away from home. He was also close to Josh, his great grandson, talking with him regularly. He bragged about how smart Josh was all the time.

His Aunt Peg visited him also on the evening he died. He hugged her and told her he loved her and she did the same. These two were close, because of the only four year separation in their age. But he was close to all of his aunts and uncles, and especially to all of his “first” cousins. And there were a slew of them, you all know who you are and how much he loved all of you. He was an only child, but never was alone.

Dad loved ALL of his 7 grandchildren, all girls but one, and 9 great grandkids. He had a special name for all of them - frizzy, nappy, and stringy - three that I remember best, for Kayla, Danielle, and Raegan. Kayla, Jordan and the kids (Allen’s grandkids Joseph, Analeah, and Alissa) visited last week and he loved seeing them, even bragged about how good Kayla was doing and gave all the kids their birthday presents. 

Here is a more complete list of his immediate family:

• Dorothy Mae “Dot” Mann Maxwell - wife since October 10, 1959
• David Lee Hogan - brother, also worked with Dad & Allen for years
• Trent Hogan (Ruth)
• Haley Hogan
• Johnny Keith Maxwell
• Raegan Lorene Maxwell
• Joel Edward Maxwell & Karen Smith Maxwell 
• Jennifer Maxwell Reynolds (Jared Reynolds)
• Emma Kate Reynolds
• Thomas Jameson Reynolds
• Anberly Teigan Reynolds
  
• Brandon Joel Maxwell
• William Allen Maxwell (deceased)
• Kayla Genell Maxwell (Jordan Smith)
• Joseph Maxwell Camp
• Analeah Janelle Camp
• Alissa Jordan Smith
• Camellia Maxwell Smith & Steve Smith 
• Jill Smith
• Josh Rager
• Gracee Rager
• Jessica Danielle Smith 
• Katherine Ann “Katie” Smith
• Beau Allen Graham Smith

Dad loved Mom. They had their arguments, like most couples, but he was definitely in love with her, since they were teenagers. He cried about her being in the Nursing home now because of her memory problems. 

Our Dad loved people, he loved to talk to them. He was a lot like his grandfather, Mon Jay Stephens. Dad hung out with Granddaddy Stephens all the time, fox hunted with him, which is mostly talking all night.

During his last days he made lots of new friends. From the nurses at the Madison Hospital, to the HH Home Health nurses and therapists, to the hospice nurses and aides. He sang to his Nurse Amanda - sang “Amanda” to her as she was talking to me and Joel about putting him on Hospice care. Mrs Fanny and Kristi bathed him on Tuesday and he loved it, even though he accused Fanny of “bopping him on the nose.” Me & Joel were thankful to Fanny for this, believe me. The young man who delivered medical equipment told us when he picked up the medical equipment after Dad died - “he was a cool guy” and “”I was having a bad day and he put a smile back on my face”.

Dad had nicknames for people who came in and out of the house- one of them he called “fat cat.” He enjoyed your visits. He also talked to Kellie Dunaway, who came in to help cook & clean up for him and wash his clothes, a very appreciated job. She was like a counselor to him sometimes, being another “cousin” to him. Dad just loved. Period. 

He was always working, and he was most aggravated during the last few months when his mind wasn’t getting enough oxygen to be able to draw up surveys or write legal descriptions. Dad surveyed from 18 years old, finally getting licensed in 1996, a very proud accomplishment. He kept taking the test over and over, and went to classes to keep learning in order to pass it. He finally did, at age 56. Surveying was his life's work, in addition to the almost 30 years at the Highway Department.  He also built cabinets at night time, and made a set of cabinets for 3 of his kids homes. He farmed with Grandaddy Maxwell, raising cows and horses for his kids. We baled hay all the time it seemed. Lots of helping hands there from the family and friends. We were definitely taught to work by Dad.

We also saw Dad lead singing, teach singing classes, and bible classes. He loved having the young kids from church over when we were young. We’ve heard from many that were impacted by him during those times.

Dad & Mom also loved to travel, with Snake & Cille, and with Jimmy & Nelda. We’ve got hundreds of pictures of their trips all over the country. These were lifetime memories for them.