Maurice D. Fillmore

He grew up helping on the farm at a young age, and although his family had very little, he always spoke fondly of his parents, whom he loved deeply, and never regretted or complained about what he didn’t have. He was helping his dad plow the fields and driving the tractor at 10 years old. He developed mechanical abilities at a young age, helped his father repair farm equipment, and rebuilt his first motor for a 1954 Ford when he was 16 years old. Maurice graduated from Emporia High School in 1961 at the age of 17. He wanted to start a career in the U.S. Air Force and needed his parents to sign for approval.

In 1962, Maurice began serving in the U.S. Air Force where he completed basic training at Lackland Airforce base in San Antonio, Texas. After basic training, he was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and attended nuclear training school to become a weapons technician, responsible for the loading of nuclear bombs on military jets. Maurice finished his military career, after 4 years, at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, where he reached the rank of E-4. He was honorably discharged in 1966. It was during Maurice's time in Florida, he met Shirley Mae (Wiles) at a friend's wedding and after dating only three months, they married on March 5, 1965. Maurice adopted Shirley’s son, Jimmy, at 18 months old and later welcomed son, David, in 1967. Maurice and Shirley raised their sons in the same home until they each moved out after graduating high school.

After his stint in the military, Maurice went on to a 34-year career with The Boeing Company where he worked his way up from a debur labor hand to an Executive Director of Operations managing Boeing’s helicopter division in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although only equipped with a high school diploma and his air force training, Maurice was a very intelligent and driven individual who had a natural ability to lead. He was direct and held everyone, including himself, to the highest expectations. His work ethic was like no other and this made a lifelong impression on both of his sons. He was a real go getter and he loved, protected, and supported his family no matter what.

Maurice supported several organizations and non-profits over the years such as: The National Rifleman Associate (NRA), the American Legion, the Albert Pike Masonic Lodge #303, the Midian Shriners, and the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation (FCF).

After retiring from Boeing in September of 1999, Maurice settled in at Beaver Lake where he built his forever home with his own two hands. After finishing the home in 2000, this is where his family spent many summers on the lake tubing, knee boarding and wakeboarding. Maurice welcomed visitors to spend time with him on the lake. His granddaughters would come spend a week with him on the lake where they would be on the boat during the day and he would teach them to play pool at night. He hosted many parties and would cook for his family and friends when they would come to visit. He was quite the pool shark and would play at home and competitively with friends.

With an outgoing personality and a fedora a top his head, we can honestly say Maurice met no stranger. For example, after chatting with a guy at a motorcycle shop about their bikes, it turned into a 10 year and thousands of miles ridden together friendship. And, that’s just one of many. It was his big personality that others gravitated to as he was, “The life of the party kind of guy,” especially when it came to family birthdays. You always received a handwritten letter on your special day, he never missed a birthday party, and showed extreme love for each his family and friends. He also had a love for the Lord that was unmatched. He made it his mission to read the Bible front to back and eventually he ended up reading 20 different versions of the Bible.

Maurice was an example of how to live life to its fullest and know that kindness can lead to lifelong friendships or simply make the day of the one in front of you. A full life that will not be forgotten!

Preceded by his parents and infant sister, those left to honor his memory are the mother of his children, Shirley Fillmore; sons, James (Linda) Fillmore and David Fillmore; brother, Darrell Fillmore; granddaughters, Allie (Kyle) Williams and Whitney (Kenny) Barry; great-grandsons, Gideon Williams and Brooks Barry; and great-granddaughters, Kennedy Barry, Blakely Williams, and Hadley Barry.

A visitation for Maurice will be held Tuesday, July 30, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM with a funeral service 2024 at 10:00 AM and a graveside service following in the garden of Devotion. All at Resthaven Mortuary and Gardens of Memory, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209.

In lieu of flowers, the family hopes you’ll consider a charitable donation to the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation (FCF) with is a foundation that was very dear to Maurice’s heart. After losing a young neighbor, Jay Alexander, to FCF, Maurice had been passionate about supporting the cause. Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation, 20 Horseneck Lane (2nd Floor), Greenwich, CT 06830, https://fibrofoundation.org/giving/ or at 203-340-7800.