Donald George Maxwell, age 86, a longtime resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on April 26, 2013 at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon.
Don was born in Lyman, WA on August 4, 1926 the son of Ethel Loretta (O’Brien) and George Myron Maxwell. He attended school in Concrete, Marblemount and Sedro-Woolley.
In 1941 when he was 15 he and his mother moved to Seattle when she took a job as a riveter with Boeing and he found work at Northwestern Glass Company. In 1942 he and his mother returned to Sedro-Woolley and he started work at Bonneville Power. In September 1945 Don went to work with Washington State Highway Department where he retired in 1976.
Don met Catherine McCord on June 16, 1946 when he picked her and a friend up hitchhiking to town from the nursing school they were attending at Northern State. They were united in marriage on August 25, 1947 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Seattle. They were very proud to tell people they had been married for 65 years.
In 1952 Don was drafted into the Army and sent to the Philippine’s where he surveyed on the island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. In 1954, nine months after he was discharged from the army, Don and Catherine adopted their first son Douglas. Two week old Rick followed in November of 1956. In 1966 after the boys asked for a sister, they adopted 7 year old Nancy and 5 year old Paula.
While the boys were growing up Don was very involved in coaching the Mighty Mites Little League team and later Babe Ruth baseball. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, playing cards, watching sports on TV and hosting family pancake breakfasts. Dad was an avid league bowler, bowling a perfect 300 game at Sedro-Woolley Bowling Center in 1975.
Don is survived by Catherine, his wife of 65 years; his son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Lynn Maxwell of Olympia; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Bill Bonafede of Sedro-Woolley; daughter, Paula Bennett of Sedro-Woolley and daughter- in-law, DiAnna Maxwell of Kennewick. His grandchildren; Daniel, Michelle, Richard Jr., Aimee, and Katrina Maxwell, Matthew and Tony Bonafede, Stephanie, Geoffrey and Bradley Bennett and great-grandchildren, Patrick, Taryn, Hunter, Tayden, Mason and Kolbie. Don was preceded in death by his parents, and his son, Rick in 2008.
A Rosary service will be held on Wednesday evening May 1st at 7pm at Lemley Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 11:00am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Sedro-Woolley with Father Martin Bourke, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. A reception will follow at the church hall.
Memorials in Don’s name are suggested to Meals on Wheels, 309 S. 3rd St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Services are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Don and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com
Many fond memories from time spent with the Maxwell’s. From opening day at Hart Lake, “Gunsmoke” on Friday nights, watching Saturday night poker games with Don, George, Lefty, my Dad along with others, cigar smoke and lots of laughter, throw in playing with Doug & Rick and it adds up to lots of good times spent together. Thank you Jean for always being the gracious hostess and always making us feel welcome in your home.