Madge Counts MAXFIELD

1920 - 2017

MAXFIELD, Madge Counts
(Age 96)

On a hot August night, on August 5, 1920, in a big log house located at Herald, VA, I was born, the fourth child of William Letcher and Coosie Rasnick Counts. The moon shone bright on the flowers my mother had planted around the house. Herald is located on a mountain top, between Coeburn and St. Paul, VA. Dr. Tompkins, of Tom's Creek, rode up the mountain, seven miles on horseback to be with my mother. When I was seven years old, I started to school. Greenwood Elementary School was located two miles from our home. My dad, W. L. Counts, was head teacher there. I walked with him to school. He walked so fast that I had to run to keep up with him. I finished seven grades at Greenwood. A school bus took me to Ervinton School located in Nora, VA for eighth and ninth grades. Then my family moved to Honaker, VA. I finished high school at Honaker in the spring of 1940. In the fall of 1940, I entered Appalachian State University located in Boone, NC and finished my first undergraduate degree in two years. Our country was at war. I decided to do something for the war effort instead of going back to school. I got a job as a draftsman at Western Electric Company located on the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore, MD. There I met Darel Lockwood Maxfield, a sergeant in the Army, from the state of Washington. We were married on April 13, 1943. Darel was shipped to California before being shipped overseas. While he was there, our darling Margaret Lockwood Maxfield was born on April 9, 1944. Darel Lockwood was shipped overseas and I left little Margaret with my mother and went back to Appalachian State and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in teaching, which was what I believe God called me to do.
In 1946, after the war was over, Darel L. was discharged from the U.S. Army and we brought our daughter to my husband's home, Forks, WA, by train. He had been gone six years. It rained every day in Forks. So after two years in Forks, we moved to Spokane, WA to live in a little more sunshine. Darel found work on the railroads and eventually worked as a grain inspector for the state of Washington. He inspected all types of grain: oats, barley, corn, wheat, and lentils. I taught school 31 years, teaching grades four through eight, also girl's physical education. My greatest joy was teaching both Square and Round dancing to boys and girls every Friday at school. Red Henderson and I founded a dance group for the District and we called it "The Silver Spurs."
In 1956, we had a son, Darel Counts Maxfield, which was one of the happiest days of our lives. When Darel C. was in the fifth grade, I asked to have him in my classroom. I was teaching at our neighborhood school and the principal said, "yes." It was the highest point of my teaching experience. Margaret finished high school at Shadle Park High School in Spokane, WA. Then she attended Weaver Airlines School in Kansas City, MO. From there, she got a Reservation Agent's job for Continental Airlines in Denver, CO. There she met and married Amos G. Williams. They have three beautiful daughters: Elizabeth Abigail (Lisa), Michelle Angela and Merry Margaret. Darel C. married Lesley Lawrence while at Gonzaga University. They have four handsome sons: Darel Lawrence (who was taken by cancer as a child), David Joseph, Daniel Jonathan and Benjamin Darel. Darel C. and Lesley both taught school in Spokane; Lesley is a Math Coach for Spokane Public Schools; and Darel retired from both teaching and the Army after his stroke.
In 1953 my husband, Darel Lockwood, purchased some lakefront property on a sleepy little Hayden Lake. We took up permanent residence there once the house was finished in 1987. My husband, Darel Lockwood, passed away March 25, 2005. I remained in the cabin until I had to come home to live with my son's family in Spokane for a while and the last years of my life I lived in the loving hands of the folks at Clarebridge (Brookdale Nine Mile).
My life was full of many joys. I loved ceramics, painting and calligraphy and spending time in my Art room overlooking the lake. I played guitar and sang and loved to square dance. My husband and I enjoyed gardening, harvesting lots of tomatoes and raspberries. I loved watching the hummingbirds and butterflies. The greatest days of my life were spent with my grandchildren, eating Mickey Mouse waffles, biscuits and gravy and watching them jump off the dock at our home in Hayden Lake.
My family is gathering at the Sunset Chapel at Fairmount Memorial Park at 1 PM to celebrate my life and afterwards they and I invite you to gather at my family home to join them in a reception. For 96 years I loved the Lord, I loved my family and I loved the little ones God placed in my care to teach.
~ Madge Counts Maxfield