Ellen Maxcy, 104
Ellen Maxcy, 104, of Bayard, Nebraska, died July 12, 2022, at the Chimney Rock Villa. Services were held Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at Gering United Methodist Church, with Pastor Francis Kinyua and Beverly Russell officiating. Burial will be at the Bayard Cemetery. A memorial will be established at a later date. Fond memories and condolences may be left at dugankramer.com.
Ellen was born March 14, 1918, in Holt County, Nebraska, to James Ralph Hopkins and Iva May Morey. Ellen graduated from Inman High School in 1936.
Ellen and Herald Maxcy were married on March 2, 1937, at the Inman Methodist Church, and immediately following the ceremony they left for Bayard, where they made their home. She soon was a busy helper in the family bakery business. Ellen raised ten children, Spanky, Linda, Alfretta, Jim, Tim, David, Jack, Jill, Jon and Gale. Ellen loved children; she was sensitive to the needs of children, whether it was a cookie from the cookie case or a hug. She was an active member of the Methodist Church for 92 years with committee work, Sunday School, Youth Group, and was certified lab teacher with the Methodist Church Conference. She was a member of the Inman, Bayard and Gering United Methodist churches.
The family bakery closed in February 1976; in 1978, she remodeled the bakery building to create a unique gift shop named the Honey Tree. Her gift shop allowed her to keep busy and be creative. Ellen enjoyed this business for 15 years. When she closed the Honey Tree in 1993, she stated that she had gone through the same door for 55 years. And she lived through two pandemics!
She enjoyed working at the Oregon Trail Wagon Train cookouts. Her favorite job was at the cabin, telling pioneer stories and showing the cabin to school children. Ellen loved helping those in need, children and the elderly at the Villa where she resided with Spanky. Ellen had a deep love for her Lord.
Survivors include Herald “Spanky” Maxcy, Alfretta (Gene) Claver; Jill (Rich) Kildow of Bayard; Jim Maxcy, David (Kathy) Maxcy, Ogallala; Tim (Sue) Maxcy, Gering; Jack (Teresa) Maxcy, Lexington; Jon (Rhonda) Maxcy, Bridgeport; Gale (Jack Kubiac) Stevens, Kirtland, NM; brother Larry (Margaret) Hopkins, Harrisburg; numerous grandkids, great-grandkids, great-great-grandkids, nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Iva Hopkins; husband Herald; daughter, Linda; great-grandson, Nathaniel Maxcy; and 3 brothers and 4 sisters.