Lyle D Maxey

Lyle Denny Maxey, 84, left this life peacefully on August 16 having suffered massive injuries in a vehicle accident August 11.

He was born July 7, 1941 in New York and five months later the Maxey family moved to Burbank, California where Lyle graduated from Burbank High, Class of 1959. He enlisted in the Army and was stationed primarily in Hawaii where he had duty as a lifeguard at the Army beach and in the band. Discharged in 1962, he settled in his family's vacation home in Newport Beach. There he worked as a cab driver, postal carrier, fireman, sign maker, abalone diver, swordfisherman, and eventually as deckhand and later captain of the Undaunted tending oil tankers at Huntington Beach.

His first marriage welcomed a daughter in 1970. After a divorce in 1974, he continued to live in Newport where in December 1976 he met a recent Stanford graduate, Valerie. They married June 2, 1979 at St. James Episcopal Church on Lido Island.

In 1989, they moved to a 100-acre ranch on the coast north of Santa Barbara where he worked as an avocado farmer and cattle rancher. Ten years later found them in Solvang, Danish capital of the USA. Lyle was active in the Model A Club as well as in American Legion Post 160, serving as commander for several years.

Acquiring a home on two acres in Cottonwood in 2014, he enjoyed establishing an olive orchard and other horticultural projects. Travel was a big part of his life.

His greatest gift was the ability to connect with people and make friends. His spirit touched the hearts of all who had the privilege to know him.

He is survived by his wife, Valerie, daughter, Gretchen, sister, Marilyn, a granddaughter and two great-grandsons.

In celebration of his remarkable life, rosary and viewing will be held on Wednesday August 27, 2025, at 4pm, at Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood, AZ and Mass on Thursday August 28, 2025, at 11am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cottonwood, AZ. Friends and family are invited to gather to share memories and honor the joyful moments spent with Lyle. He will be laid to rest at the Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo in Bellemont, which will take place at a later date and time.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Wounded Warrior project via link below.