Gene Maxwell

Gene, also known best in the later years of his life, as Pa, lived many lives in his 84 years. He had many stories to share of all the experiences he had, as a boy, and as a young man, including time spent in the military. But what lives on because of Gene is all of the people his life touched.

Gene was a step father to Andrea (65) and father to Cassie (66) and Marty (61). Gene married Rina in 1988 and became step father to Chad (50) and Cori (46) and together they had Jaime (31), Austin (29), Casey (28), and Jesse (25).

Gene spent a majority of his working career wit ATT and retired before moving to NC as a business owner of a Marine Repair Company. After this, he retired and Rina and Gene raised their four kids together in Winnabow. This is the part of his life that was shared with those present today.

Gene was an extraordinarily gifted musician. He played classical guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, violin, drums, bells, flute, clarinet, and every whistle known to man. His two youngest sons inherited his gift and love for guitar and bass. Gene played in every church band he ever attended. He was in many bands and enjoyed playing at the highland games where he camped with his four youngest kids every year.

Gene was also an amazing cook/baker. He made cinnamon rolls from scratch every Christmas morning and prepared every holiday meal from scratch (as well as doing basically all the cooking in the home). He was the favored choice for making breakfast, especially by Jaime and Jesse, and he always obliged them. His four youngest children inherited his love for cooking, (two of them even obtaining degrees in culinary arts), all of them finding joy in preparing food for others. If you never had "Gene's Bread" you missed out! Gene began making bread for the family many years ago but in his late 70's he started a bread business in which he supplied his freshly made bread to local bakeries. This brought him a lot of joy and purpose.

If his health would have allowed it, Gene would have been here for many more years. He fought hard in these last years to be here, especially for his kids. Gene loved Jesus and loved learning the Word and teaching the Word. He had many flaws, and many gifts, but what he would claim to be his honor was his salvation, undeserved, given freely by his Savior. He found freedom in the love of Jesus, for all of his regrets and all of his failures, and he would say he had many. He knew, one day, he would stand before the throne and be seen as clothed in Christs righteousness. His heart's desire was to hear the words, "well done, my good and faithful servant". He told us all the week before he died that he was ready to see Jesus. And while we are left broken hearted at the loss of him, he is celebrating in the throne room, certainly playing some kind of instrument, all of his years on earth mere practice for the worship he now pays his King!