Obituary – Shirley Maxwell

Shirley Maxwell of Red Feather Lakes passed away on Aug. 20, 2011. She was 84. Shirley was born to Ira and Jessie (Ward) Southard on June 13, 1927, on the family farm home near Big Springs, Neb. She came to Fort Collins to stay with her aunt, Pearl Mauser, and attend Fort Collins High School. There she met Stuart Maxwell and in August of 1947 they married. They raised their four children on the Maxwell dairy farm on the west side of Fort Collins. In 1965 they fulfilled the dream of owning a cattle ranch by purchasing the Caerlaverock Ranch in the Red Feather Lakes area. Stuart and Shirley celebrated their 50 Wedding Anniversary in 1997.

Shirley loved and treasured her family, her 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Shirley and Stuart loved to square dance and played cards with a group of long-time friends. Their ranch house became a destination for family and friends to gather, where everyone enjoyed their gracious hospitality and the beauty of the Caerlaverock Ranch. Shirley is remembered as a kind and generous woman, much loved and cherished by all her family and friends.

Shirley was an active member of the Red Feather Chapel in the Pines, sang in the choir and donated her time to the church’s thrift store in Red Feather Lakes. She was a long standing member of the Colorado CattleWomen and Larimer County CattleWomen, she was also active in the Larimer County Extension Club, Mountain Gals Community Group and the Red Feather Lakes Historical Society. Shirley also loved the game of baseball, first as a Chicago Cubs fan and then she became an avid Colorado Rockies fan watching every televised game.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Ira and Jessie Southard; two brothers Doyle and Dale Southard; and her husband Stuart. She is survived by her daughters Kathy (Todd) Welsh-DeVries, of Idaho Falls, Idaho and Karen (Fred) Beuck of Agate; sons Michael (Erika) Maxwell and Dan (Janna) Maxwell, both of Red Feather Lakes; grandchildren Jennifer, Meghan, Karli, Kate, Erinn, Kristin, Lisa, Carl, Laura, and Haley; eight great-grandchildren; sister-in-laws Vera Southard of Cantonment, Fla. and Erma Devers of Fort Collins; brother-in-law Eugene Maxwell of Fort Collins; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services were held Aug. 25, at The Chapel in the Pines in Red Feather Lakes. Burial was at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins.

Memorial gifts can be made to the Red Feather Chapel in the Pines Expansion Fund, in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 650 W. Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526.

Visit www.allnutt.com to view Shirley’s online obituary, sign the family guest book and send your condolences.