John Fleming Maxwell, Jr.

John Fleming Maxwell, Jr. 74, passed away August 16, 2017 in Abilene, Texas. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Highland Church of Christ.  Visitation with the family will be held Friday, August 18, 2017 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

John was born August 26, 1942 in Corpus Christi, Texas to John and Mary Louise Maxwell.  After graduating from Corpus Christi W.B. Ray High School, he briefly attended Abilene Christian University before enlisting in the United States Army.  After four years of overseas military service, he returned to ACU in 1968 where he met and married Karen Taylor.  John and Karen moved to Austin where John completed a BBA in Accounting at the University of Texas, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.  John had a varied career which included working 10 years as an auditor with an international accounting firm, establishing his own CPA practice, and serving as the administrator for the Corpus Christi Cancer Center.  While at the Cancer Center, he often served as an unofficial counselor, ministering to individuals and families as they faced life crises. In 2006, John and Karen moved to Abilene where Karen continues to teach at Abilene Christian University.

John’s faith was evident throughout his life, serving fifteen years as an elder, teaching Bible classes, and frequently sponsoring youth events, retreats, and mission trips.  On February 22, 2006, John sustained a hemorrhagic stroke which resulted in paralysis and speech delay.  While his physical body would no longer work correctly, he used these last eleven years to minister to others through his example, without bitterness or complaint.

Preceded in death by his parents, John is survived by his wife Karen of Abilene; son Marc (Lisa) Maxwell of West Linn, Oregon; daughter Mary Beth Taylor (Charlton) of Las Cruces, New Mexico; sister Jan (Bob) Kraner of Spring, Texas, and three grandsons, Kaden, Ashton and Pierson Taylor of Las Cruces.  He is also survived by numerous friends, especially those at Highland Church of Christ.

The family would like to thank the staff in the Adult Therapy division at West Texas Rehabilitation Center for their faithful service to John over the past 11 years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in John’s name to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.  Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com .