J.D. Maxwell

1930 - 2014

J.D. Maxwell passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 11, 2014 in Jackson CA. J.D. was born in Willams, Arizona on June 30th 1930 to Troy Samuel Maxwell and Grace Olive Maxwell (Parker). He is survived by his sister Marlene Maxwell of Townsend, DE, son Dexter Maxwell of Postin, AZ, daughter Dixie Cameron and son-in-law Bob Cameron of Plymouth, CA, daughter Natalie McPherson and son-in-law Chris McPherson of Abilene, TX, granddaughter Jamie Colburn-Lubenko and grandson-in-law Ronn Lubenko of Fiddletown, CA and his loving great-grandchildren Bailey Lubenko, Jonathan Lubenko, Michael Lubenko, Gracie McPherson, Amanda Neilsen, Chase McPherson and Jamie McPherson.

J.D. will be remembered by his very special cowboy wit and wisdom, his amazing strength, artistic talents and love for the ladies. He graduated from Palo Verde High School where he was a active member of the FFA and responsible for drawing the art for their High School yearbook. It was that yearbook art that led to his talents being discovered by Walt Disney and the offer of a job by a practically unknown Disney Company in the late 1940's, a job he eventually declined. His dream was to be a farmer. He rode and trained race horses with his father before eventually settling into his life's work, the construction of water canals. J.D. started a Gradall business in the early 1950s and pioneered how water canals were constructed with the design of a special "winged" bucket. Although he did not realize his dream of being a farmer, his work made farming in the Yuma valley and parts of Southern California possible for so many others. He was a member of the Operating Engineers Local #3. J.D. considered himself lucky to have had three amazing wives all of whom he always loved and considered his friends. Nothing brought him more joy than the music of Bob Wills and the opportunity to tease a family member. Among the many things he taught us, none was more important than the value of hard work and as he frequently told us "Always be doing something, even if it's wrong".

Memorial Services will be held on Sunday, June 15th at 2:00 p.m. at the Fiddletown Community Church, followed by a reception at the Lubenko Home on Tyler Rd. Final graveside services will be held on Wednesday, June 18th at 9:00 a.m. at Desert Lawn Cemetery in Yuma Arizona.

Memorial contributions in J.D.'s name can be sent to the Amador County FFA Ag Boosters P.O. Box 1078, Jackson, CA 95642.