Margaret Alice Maxwell

With profound sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of our dear mother Margaret Alice Maxwell on March 30, 2020.  Her many friends knew her as Margie. Her family knew her as Mumdiddlywashing.  She was the devoted mother of seven children: Susan (John), Donald (Sandy), Betsy (Bill), Amy (Gus), Laura (Gary), Mary (Steven) and Martha (Rees); proud grandmother of many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in March of 1932, she grew up in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan with her brother Robert and her sister Mary. Margie graduated from Stevens College in Columbia, Missouri, which is where she fell in love with and married Robert Edgar Maxwell in July, 1951.  She was preceded in death by her son Donald Owen Maxwell, grandson Daniel Robert Zagorski, her parents, and her brother and sister.

Margie and Bob lived in Chicago while he was stationed there by the Army during the Korean conflict.  They later moved to Osage Beach, Missouri to work a family poultry farm, which they transformed in 1962 into Dogwood Hills, the first public golf course at the Lake of the Ozarks. In 1983 they moved to Crested Butte, Colorado. They divorced in 1991. After living in many different places, Margie settled in Ogden, Utah in 2004.

Margie was an extraordinary person with many interests and talents. Not only did she care for her large family, she and Bob ran a farm providing eggs and chickens to the restaurants around the Lake of the Ozarks. She sold knitting machines, tailored clothing, made clothing for all her children and was a wonderful cook and baker. She had a soft spot for cats and never lived a day in her adult life without a kitty on her lap. But her true passion and genuine talent was in photography. She loved to drive around the countryside photographing old barns, interesting people and animals. She documented many weddings and special events and loved to capture the candid view of people’s lives. Many people may know of her incredible images of Genesis, Phil Collins, and so many others which appeared in many books and albums. She appeared in several Genesis music videos. Music and photography together brought her so much joy.  

And then she discovered Africa! She travelled to Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana many times, photographing the wild animals and big cats. When she wasn’t in Kenya, she was planning her next trip. She developed a close relationship with a small Kenyan community, becoming an honorary member of their extended family. Her compassion for people and animals was an inspiration to many. She was a member of Amnesty International and taught her children to see that every person deserved to be treated with respect.

Margie loved life, adventure, people, animals and beauty.

A private celebration of Margie’s life will be planned for a future date. In lieu of flowers please donate to your local animal shelter. 

Hakuna Matata!