Cecile A. Maxwell

Cecile A. Maxwell, 89, former longtime State Center/Rhodes area resident, passed away early Monday morning, October 7, 2013, at the Iowa Veterans Home where she has resided since March of 2010. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2013, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest in the Woodland Cemetery at Iowa Center. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born Cecile Gray on July 13, 1924, on the family farm near Rhodes, Iowa, she was one of three daughters born to James B. and Gladys (Pike) Gray. She graduated from the Rhodes High School in 1941. On September 26, 1943, she was united in marriage to Vern Maxwell, Jr. in Rhodes. They made their home near Rhodes and she was a member of the Rhodes United Methodist Church. Many will remember her for her passion of helping others in the community and crafts- especially quilting, crocheting, ceramics as well as being an awesome cook. Her meals were the ultimate reward for a hard days work on the farm and the cherries and apples in the pies came right of the trees in the farmyard. Cecile loved animals, especially her cats. Zeus the fat cat really made an impression on her as did Nacho, her granddaughters little Chihuahua who loved to visit her at IVH. She enjoyed making homemade ice cream and finishing the day with a good episode of The Call of the Wildman, aka the Turtle Man. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Jon Steven (Judy) Maxwell of Kansas City, Kansas; Michael Kim Maxwell at home; and Merridee (Andy) Jones of Atkins, Iowa; Bonnie Brandt of Olathe, Kansas. Also surviving are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Grant (Becky) Maxwell, and children Tori, Teghan of Centerville, Iowa, and Tiffany Maxwell of Mason City, Iowa; Dana Maxwell of Olathe, Kansas; Cory (Michelle) and Maliyah Maxwell of Ozark, Missouri; Jason (Mistry) Maxwell and Kade and Destini all of Marshalltown; Jamie (Jim) Schelling and Dustin, Dallas, Dacie and Dominik all of Grand Prairie, Texas; and Ben Jones and Alex Jones both of Atkins; as well as Bonnies children: Joshua Brandt and Allyson (Dave) Grimaldi. In death, she rejoined her husband, Vern, who died on October 23, 1989; her parents, and two sisters: Evelyn Eddy and Donna Smith. In death, she rejoined her husband, Vern, who died on October 23, 1989; her parents, and two sisters: Evelyn Eddy and Donna Smith.