Mark M. Maxwell was born Feb. 16, 1909 near Salina, Kan. to James A. and Helen Maxwell, he passed Dec. 3, 2007 in Caldwell, Idaho. He came to Twin Falls, Idaho in July, 1919. In 1927, the family moved to Parma and he graduated high school there in 1927. He attended the University of Idaho on a basketball scholarship in 1928, but returned to Parma after his mother had a heart attack. He was able to get a football scholarship to the College of Idaho in 1931 and graduated in 1935. While in college, he worked for the police department, the fire department (and slept there) and cleaned the Elks club. Since he was on a scholarship, getting married would have nullified that so he and Frankie borrowed a car and drove to Baker, Ore. and secretly got married in 1932. They announced after graduation that they were married, but didn't disclose what year... He taught school in Cascade and Parma from 1935 to 1940, then he went to work for the NYA in 1941 and was there until joining the Navy in 1943. He was a Chief Petty Officer recruiter stationed in Boise, Burley and Ohio and was discharged in 1945. He immediately started working for the Veteran Administration in Boise working with disabled vets particularly the blind. In Jan. 1953, Governor Len Jordan appointed him to the Idaho Board of Corrections where he served as vice chair and chair until retirement in 1967. He worked for Washington State welfare dept for five years helping people get back to work. He is survived by Marcia and Ron Blakeley, their children and grandchildren; Mahlon and Connie Maxwell and their children, and their grandchildren and numerous other relatives and many friends and golfers. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Fairfax Avenue and Virginia Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103; or to the Boise Elks 310 Building Fund, 348 N. Orchard Street, Boise, Idaho 83706. A viewing will be Thursday, Dec. 6 from 5-7 p.m. at Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel. Burial will be Friday, Dec. 7. at 1:30 p.m. at Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. Memorial services will follow on Friday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. at Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel. A celebration reception will be after the services at the El Korah Shrine.
Published in the Idaho Statesman on 12/6/2007.