Guy Eugene Maxwell

Guy attended Parkrose High School in Portland, Oregon where he graduated earning a High School diploma. He spent 2 years at Portland State University studying music. He went to Parkrose Sacramento Elementary, Parkrose Heights Junior High and Parkrose High School. He also did a summer program at Lewis and Clark as a teenager playing the trombone before he started playing the drums. He was a trombone player in the Portland Junior Symphony at around 13 years old.

Guy’s first marriage was to Heather Waite in 1990 and they were married in Portland, Oregon and had one child Hannah. They were divorced in 1993. He married again in 2011 to Donna Renee Johnson where they divorced in 2013, however, they remained a couple and were inseparable living together from 2009 to his death on Sunday 1/25/2025.

Guy has worked at Fred Meyer as a cashier, Apple music managing the drum compartment and Guitar Center among other music stores throughout his career. He also has been a drum instructor teaching how to play drums. Teaching and mentoring many students throughout the years.

Guy had been affiliated with Life Church where he played in the church band. He has been a drummer for over 50 years and has played in the greater Portland area all types of venues and all types and styles of music from classical, jazz, rock, funk, R&B, Afro-Cuban and country.

He is the drummer on albums such as Nu Shooz (Told You So), The World (Break the Silence) John Fahey (Rain Forest, Oceans, and Other Themes).

His biggest hobby was music, listening, playing. He practiced the drums everyday 4 hours a day. He was always striving for excellence in his craft. He had his drummer favorites such as Steve Gadd and Vinnie Colaiuta.

He memorized lots of jokes and was always telling jokes. He would keep the nurses at the hospital entertained with his jokes. He loved horror movies and action films. He did not like any kind of injustice happening to anyone. The best part of Guy was his sense of humor. He was generous and would help out a friend by listening or monetarily where he could. He was sensitive to world issues and educated himself about what was happening in the world.

I think Guy would want to be remembered as an excellent and accomplished drummer. He would want to be remembered as kind and giving person.

He is survived by Hannah Maxwell (daughter), Ex-wife Heather Maxwell, Sister Shelley Christensen (David), Niece Jessi Pettit, Nephew Travis Christensen, Ex-Wife and domestic partner Donna Renne Johnson and his dog who he loved so much a black labrador named Wizard.