Keith Harry Maxwell, 63, died March 12, 2023, in Shreveport, LA, after a tough fight with cancer.
Keith was born Nov. 24, 1959 in Lee, ME. After earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering at The University of Maine at Orono in 1982, he joined the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer, married his soulmate Kathy, and spent the next 25 years traveling wherever the military sent him. Their daughter Alexys was born in 1984 and their daughter Taryn in 1985. In 1990, he earned his Master of Engineering in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Florida at Gainesville. His time in the Air Force sent Keith and his family to such locations as California, Germany, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, with solo tours in Egypt and Afghanistan. After retiring in 2006, he worked as a civilian for Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, England, and the Army Corps of Engineers in Lawton, OK and Wichita Falls, TX. Keith retired again in 2022, when he began to focus on renovating his family home in Maine and spending time with his loved ones.
When not working, Keith enjoyed many hobbies: reading books, writing science fiction and historical fiction novels, participating in community theater, traveling, cheering on the Patriots and Florida Gators, watching TV and movies, and spending time with his wife and daughters. He also loved puzzles and games and was active in the United Methodist Church. His real passion was history – especially the American Civil War – and would discourse at length about any historical topic thrown at him, given the chance. He was a beacon of positivity and intelligence who illuminated all those around him and will be missed dearly.
Keith is preceded in death by his mother, Cheryl, and his parents-in-law, William and Jessie Halfhill. He is survived by his wife, Kathy; daughter Alexys Irwin and her husband, Brandon; daughter Taryn Kocurek and her husband, Lloyd, and their children, Kylie and Aaron; father Maynard; older brother Kevin and his wife, Ginger; younger brother Scott and his wife, Janet; one nephew and a handful of nieces; and various aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Willis-Knighton Health System and The Carpenter House hospice facility in the Shreveport, LA area. They also wish to express heartfelt gratitude to their family and friends for outstanding care and support during his illness.
A funeral service with military honors will be held Friday, May 26 at 1:00pm in Lee, ME. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lee Historical Society at Main Street (Route 6), PO Box 306, Lee, ME, 04455; the Our Heroes Military Museum at 55 W Broadway, Lincoln, ME, 04457; or any cancer charity of your choice.