Sheila A. Maxwell

Sheila Schrepel Maxwell, 69, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on the morning of September 30, 2021 at Western Plains Medical Complex in Dodge City. A funeral service will be 11 a.m., Friday, October 15 at the Presbyterian Church in Washington. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. She was born on the Schrepel family farm on April 20, 1952, in rural Stafford County, Kansas, near the town of Hudson. Sheila was proud of the fact that her family’s wheat contributed to the world-famous Hudson Cream flour. Sheila’s mother, LaVerne, was a teacher, and her grandfather, Elmer, ran the family farm. Sheila graduated valedictorian of her class at St. John/Hudson High School in 1970. She attended Kansas State University from 1970 to 1974 as a Putnam Scholar and lived in the Smurthwaite Scholarship and Leadership House. She counted those years as some of the happiest years of her life, and she was always an enthusiastic advocate for all things K-State. After college graduation, Sheila took a year off and lived and worked in Kansas City, then attended Kansas University Law School from 1975-1978, breezing through the difficult law classes with her phenomenal photographic memory and amazing intellect. She also attended K.U. basketball games in her spare time. Sheila’s law career began with a position with Kansas Legal Aid of Wichita from 1978 to 1982. She then returned to Stafford County to work as an associate for the law firm of Emerson Shields from 1982 to 1984; she ran for County Attorney in 1982 and served in that position until 1992. Sheila’s return to Stafford County was a fortuitous turn of events, since it was there that she met and fell in love with the local veterinarian, Steve Maxwell. Steve and Sheila were married May 17, 1986, and became parents of their only child, Douglas Paul Maxwell, on December 27, 1987. Doug was always a source of excitement, pride, and love for Sheila throughout her life. She shared his love of music and loved to tell of his musical accomplishments. The Maxwell family moved to Dodge City in the summer of 1992. Sheila served as Associate County Attorney for two years there and then served as a city judge from 1994-2002, when medical reasons prompted her early retirement. Her judicial career and decisions were marked by her incredible intellect, compassion, and sense of justice. Subsequent to her retirement, Sheila lived for five years in Washington, KS, caring for her mother-in-law, Margaret Maxwell, during the last years of Margaret’s life. Sheila moved back to Dodge City after Margaret’s death. Sheila was a true Renaissance woman, with interests ranging from sports (especially college basketball), her church, music (especially musical theatre), current events, and travel. She was a member of P.E.O., a women’s organization dedicated to advancing the educational opportunities of women. Sheila was also active in the Presbyterian Church and lived her life according to her deep faith. She was a Music Theatre of Wichita season ticket holder for 42 years and loved attending those productions. Sheila’s love of travel took her to numerous locations, including Europe and Mexico several times, New York with both Doug and Margaret, and a bus tour throughout the United States. Sheila’s generous and loving spirit and her quick wit will be missed by all her family and friends, and she will never be forgotten. Survivors include her husband, Stephen Maxwell DVM; and son, Douglas Paul Maxwell, Lawrence, KS. Memorials may be made to the Washington City Library or the American Diabetes Association. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sheila A. Maxwell, please visit our flower store.