Earl Donald "Don" Maxwell passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the Veterans Center in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Don was born December 25, 1929 in Marshall County. He was reared in the Communities of Cumberland, Aylesworth and Bowlin. He was baptized as a young boy in Lake Texoma. His parents, H. E. "Slim" and Lillian Christeen Alford Maxwell and Don's brother Bobby, sisters Hazel, Lillie Ann & Diana moved to land purchased North of Madill on Randolph Bottom Road. Don graduated from Madill High School in 1947. Don enlisted in the United States Navy on August 10, 1950 and trained in Navrecsta, San Diego, California and was in ports of Hawaii, Japan and Korea. He was assigned to the ship USS LST 802 during the Korean Conflict. During his service he received the Good Conduct Medal, Navy Occupation (Asia), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Ribbon (5 Battle Stars) and United National Service Medal. Sea service was 3 years, 6 months and 22 days. His Honorable Discharge was June 4, 1954. The 802 ferried Army and Marine Corp personnel and British Royal Marine Commanders and served as a floating base for a helicopter. He later attends what is now called Murray State College at Tishomingo, Oklahoma where he met the love of his life, Linda Mae Lewis from Ponotoc, OK., so on February 26, 1955 they were married. Their first child a girl, Carolyn Sue was born November 16, 1955. Don completed his Associate Bachelor's Degree and moved to attend A & M in Stillwater, OK. While there the family would travel back to Madill to help with the farming and his son E. D. was born July 29, 1957. Back at Stillwater, college was put on hold and he starting working for an insurance company selling life insurance and a second daughter, Lana was born September 12, 1959. The family picked up and moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma where he sold policies for National Life Insurance. He received several sales awards in which he and wife, Linda would travel. While selling policies he wanted to work for himself with his hands and began purchasing hammers and saws for carpentry and construction. He still continued to work on the family farm on weekends.

The summer of 1971 his family moved to Madill. Don continued farming and construction. He loved his family and supported them in all of their school activities and supported their extra-curricular activities of football, basketball, track & FFA. Then came along his children's marriages and 6 grandchildren, when his wife of 42 years passed he continued with the tradition of supporting the third generation with their activities. Don became re-acquainted with a Madill classmate, fellow widower and a Very Special Friend, Sue Scott of Norman. They enjoyed everything OU. After semi-retirement in his 70's, Don enjoyed meeting up at the local McDonalds with his buddies for coffee and sausage biscuit with grape jelly every morning and he also enjoyed feeding the deer in Montana while visiting with his son, E.D. Don was diagnosed with early onset of dementia and Alzheimer on November 8, 2011. He was admitted to the Ardmore VA Center on November 27, 2012 where he lived until his peaceful passing on February 3, 2018.

Don was survived by

Children:                      Carolyn Sue Maxwell, Madill, Oklahoma
E. D. Maxwell and wife LaDonna, Great Falls, Montana

Lana Billings and husband Randy, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Grandchildren:             Andrea Sue O'Steen and husband Greg, Grand Prairie, Texas

Amilia Jo Cato and husband John, Quanah, Texas

Jody Maxwell and wife Elizabeth, Enloe, Texas

Tara Orr and husband Justin, Madill, Oklahoma

Jessica and husband Shawn Pierce, Madill, Oklahoma

Judd Bean and wife Beverly, Madill, Oklahoma

Chase and wife Chantelle Ladd, Yukon, Oklahoma

Terry and wife Shay Billings, Roff, Oklahoma

Randal and wife Kaylee Billings, Mill Creek, Oklahoma

Cali and husband Buddy Lewis, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Great Grandchildren:                Lainey O'Steen, Grand Prairie, Texas

Ethan and Eli Cato, Quanah, Texas

Aubrey Orr, Madill, Oklahoma

Lindyn Pierce, Madill, Oklahoma

Max and Logan Bean, Madill, Oklahoma

Alaura and Jake Billings, Roff, Oklahoma

Adyson and Bayden Lewis, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Sister:                                       Hazel Wheeler, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Lillie Ann Duncan and husband Jack, Bells, Texas

Diana Cumbie and husband Terry, Plano, Texas

Special Friend:                         Sue Scott, Norman, Oklahoma

Don was preceded in death by his parents; Herman Earl Maxwell and Lillian Christeen Alford Maxwell, his wife; Linda Mae Lewis Maxwell and brother; Bobby Jack Maxwell