Rita Sue Maxwell's Obituary
Rita Sue Maxwell, 84 years old, residing in Neodesha, Kansas went on to be with Jesus on January 14th, 2021.
Sue was born on January 25th, 1936 to Dewey and Fern Yocom in Fredonia, Kansas. She was the youngest sibling, the oldest being Sisters Hazel, then Mildred, Marie, Brother Ross, then Sue.
After attending Fredonia High School, she married Bud Maxwell on November 16th 1952 in Fredonia, Kansas going on to have five children, Buddy, Kyle, Terry, Lyle and Stephanie.
Sue was a beautiful, beautiful person, inside and out. In her younger years she was very fashionable, and looked like a beauty queen in most of her pictures.
Sue managed their home in rural Fredonia supporting her husband with their farming operation. She enjoyed cooking massive meals for her family as well as several ranch hands. She was also the primary manager of the family’s hog operation, spending countless hours caring for the animals.
She was also employed as a Dispatcher for the Wilson County Sheriff's Office for several years.
She spent many long sessions in the garden and kitchen during canning season. Terry and Stephanie remember during the harvest she would make tea and brownies to bring to her husband, sons and ranch hands for an afternoon break. When the boys were young they liked to hide for fun, jumping out to scare her, or bring fishing worms in the house making her fuss to get them out. Harry Stewart hung out with Buddy at the house quite a bit and she loved having him there. She would take the family and go to Grandma and Grandpa Yocom’s house on Sundays sometimes for a fried chicken dinner.
In her spare time, she enjoyed being outdoors and fishing on the farm pond bank. She loved taking her children to Silver Dollar City every year, staying at the Jesse James Motel and driving through the Ozarks, always saying how much she would like to live there. Family Reunions at the Independence, Kansas Park and Zoo every summer were a highlight for her as she got to see many family members who traveled from afar.
All the grand-kids loved Grandma Sue the most, they would spend the night at her house and she would make sure to spoil them with lots of candy, snack cakes and cartoons. Her grand-kids recall her having a beautiful smile and a terrific laugh, saying her eyes lit up and showed her joy when she laughed. They said she had a true grace and never made anyone feel less than or unloved or unwanted. She was always happy for their successes and supportive during failures. Josh said his Grandma was a very special woman and he will forever keep his Braums ice cream buddy in his heart. Kimmy remembers a special summer with Grandma Sue playing at the park with Stephanie.
She loved her family immensely, and enjoyed them coming to visit whenever they could. She was a giver and always made sure that everyone else was taken care of.
Sue loved Buster, Buddy and Lorrie’s Shih Tzu. Buster only allowed four people to ever hold him and she was one of them. She remembered her children and grandchildren’s birthdays, always making sure they got a gift.
She loved to bowl, especially with Doris McDonald. They were in a bowling league for many years. In later years you could find her playing Bingo, especially with her niece, Alice. She and Alice also enjoyed playing many games of cards throughout the years. Alice and Sue were close in age and were like and grew up like loving Sisters.
She enjoyed watching football games especially the Kansas City Chiefs. She was a big fan of Star Trek and loved watching it every week, she made Trekkies out of Lyle and Brendan. On Sundays you could find her watching NASCAR, and just anytime she loved watching old westerns. She enjoyed watching the Gaither Homecoming videos and got to attend one of their concerts several years ago.
Sue was a member of the Buxton Christian Church for many years and enjoyed attending services there. Throughout her life, she put her faith and trust in God to take care of her, and He did.
She lived many years in Parkview Retirement Village in Fredonia. As her health gradually started to decline, she moved into Assisted-Living for the remainder of her life. While there, she enjoyed being taken for car rides, stopping for Braum’s ice cream or a latte.
Sue was predeceased by her parents Dewey and Fern Yocom, brother Charles Ross, and sisters Hazel, Mildred and Marie, her son Kyle, and the father of her children, Bud Maxwell.
She is survived by her son Buddy and his wife Lorrie, daughter Terry, son Lyle and his wife Sherry, daughter Stephanie and her husband Bijoy, as well many grand-children, great-grand-children, and other relatives.
Sue was a wonderful wife and mother, and she will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her.
The family will be holding a private memorial service.
Memorial contributions in Sue’s name can be made to the Fredonia Food Pantry and can be mailed to or left with the funeral home.
Services entrusted to:
Countryside Funeral Home, 420 S. 20th, PO Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736
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