James Maxwell

James “Red” Maxwell, 71, of Bushland, passed away on Friday, July 26, 2024, in Amarillo.

Funeral mass will be 2:00 PM Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in White Deer, with Rev. Hrudaya Raju Kondamudi, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Rosary will be 6:00 PM Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel.

Red was born on October 1, 1952, in Galveston to James Sonnier and Nelly Maxwell. He graduated from W. W. Samuell High School of Dallas in 1971. After graduation Red worked as a deck hand on charter boats in Port Aransas. In 1973 Red moved to Amarillo and went to work for Brown and Root Construction building the Owens Corning Plant. He met Connie Bohannon while working on the Owens Corning Plant and they were married on April 28, 1979. After they were married, they traveled around the country working in construction. In 2015 Red and Connie moved to Bushland for Red’s retirement years. During his years in Bushland he helped with his grandchildren, taking them to their sporting events, to school and spoiling them as much as possible. 

Red was a very hard worker and was very compassionate and detail oriented with his work. He was a goofball, loved playing practical jokes and never met a stranger, always making friends easily. Red was a very loving husband, father and grandfather, who would do anything he could for his family or anyone in need. In his free time, he enjoyed riding quads, fishing, hunting and camping. His family would say he was an animal whisper, and he never met an animal that didn’t love him. When asked what he wanted to eat he would always say Sushi. 

Red is preceded in death by his mother, Nelly Maxwell; stepfather, Dave Maxwell; father, James Sonnier; stepmother, Mary Sonnier; and brother, Danny Sonnier.

Survivors include wife, Connie Maxwell; daughter, Ara Cousins and husband Jason; grandchildren, Kyleigh Cousins, Landon Cousins, Kendall Cousins, Amelia Cousins; siblings, Derrick Sonnier and wife Jenene, Karin Evans and husband Eddie, Marilynn Keahey, and Darlene Ellison; and sister-in-law, Gail Sonnier.