Born in the long-abandoned coal mining camp of Raines, Utah, Maxine Donnelly was the 4th child of Ruby (a school teacher) and Alton (an early union organizer who became the youngest mining superintendant in Utah). Maxine completed high school in Kemmener, Wyoming and enrolled at the University of California, Berkely, where she studied Literature. While at UC Berkeley she met Ted and the two were married after graduation in June, 1947, settling in Berkeley, California.

Maxine and Ted have four children, Theodre Craig, Kevin Donnelly, Brook Donnelly and Ann, each born in California and graduating from California universities. Kevin passed away in Hawaii in 1998.

Maxine and Ted moved from the Bay Area of Northern California to La Canada (now La Canada-Flintridge) in 1960. They lived there for 20 years where Maxine raised her children, while being active in church (LDS) and community activities. In 1986, following Ted's retirement from Transamerica Corporation, they moved to the desert community of Hemet, California, to be near Maxine's parents for several years.

In 1986, Ted and Maxine moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where their oldest son was living. They lived here until the passing of Ted in 2003.

In 2005, Maxine remarried an old family friend, Don Nelson, and moved to Salt Lake City, where Don was active in medical research. Maxine lived here until the passing of Don in 2010.

Maxine then relocated to Vancouver, Washington, where her daughter was living. She lived there until her peaceful passing in 2019. Requesting no memorial service besides children at graveside, she and Ted are buried in the National Cemetery in Vancouver, Washington.

Maxine is remembered as a loving example of kindness and charity and will be missed and remembered by her children, family, friends and those who have gone on ahead.

Click for Maxine's life in her own words