Obituary of Maxie Frank Chester

Maxie ‘Mac’ Frank Chester, went to heaven on March 11, 2019 at Carriage House Manor from Renal Failure at the age of 70.  Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 13th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am at West Oaks Funeral Home on Thursday, March 14, 2019 with Dr. Joel Tiemeyer, Reverend Larry Jordan, and Pastor Paul Pogue officiating. Interment to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park.

Maxie was born on July 31, 1948 in Sulphur Springs to James Franklin and Dorothy Jean (Deaton) Chester. He attended Sulphur Springs High School and graduated from Sulphur Bluff High School. 

On June 27, 1969 he married Sandra (Sandi) Gayle Murray.  After her death in 2006, he married Sherry (Brinlee) Garrard on March 14, 2008.

Maxie served for over 40 years in public works and the water treatment business, including 16 years for the City of Sulphur Springs, where he was once honored as Employee of the Year.

Of all his achievements, Maxie enjoyed being a husband and father best of all. Maxie’s friendly smile and contagious laugh engaged others quickly as did his personality plus lifestyle and southern charm. Maxie delighted in being funny and making people laugh. His love of God and others showed as he gave away many Bibles and pens throughout his lifetime. 

Maxie participated in the Prison Ministry of Fruitful Harvest and enjoyed giving hope to others. Since 2012, Maxie has been a supportive member of The Way Bible church. Above all Maxie loved his Lord, his family, his friends and his church.

Maxie was also a sports enthusiast and served as a past president of the Wildcat Booster Club.  He had fond memories of announcing Wildcat football and baseball games with Cecil Savage.  Supporting his kids through their many activities was a highlight.  

Survivors include wife, Sherry (Brinlee) Chester of Sulphur Springs, TX.  Maxie’s living legacy incudes son Jim Chester and wife Beatrice of Heath, TX and daughter Dusty (Chester) Sheffield and husband Blake of Sulphur Springs, TX.  Children by marriage include: Jennifer (Garrard) Wenneker and husband Jeremy of Lewisburg TN; Sheryl (Garrard) Huddleston and husband Jonathan of Greenville, TX; Allie (Garrard) Thompson and husband Travis of Saltillo, TX; and Kimberly Garrard of Lewisburg, TN. 

Grandchildren include Patrick, Becket, Lillian, and Andrew Chester and Benjamin (Ben) and Samuel (Sam) Sheffield.  Additional grandchildren include Aliyah, Zadok, Benaiah, and Obed Wenneker, Jochebed and Josiah Huddleston, and Hannah, Hadassah, and Travis Thompson, II.    

Additional survivors include sisters Teena Romans of Sulphur Springs, TX, Vickie Wilcox of Carrolton, TX, Tonjia Lee and husband Robert Lee of Sulphur Springs, and brother Andy Chester and his wife Glynda Chester of Sulphur Springs. Maxie has a multitude wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins who he appreciated dearly as well.

He is preceded in death by parents James Frank Chester (2004) and Dorothy Jean (Deaton) Chester (2007) and wife Sandi Gayle (Murray) Chester (2006).  He is preceded in death by father-in-law O.C Murray, mothers-in-law Dessie Murray and Opal Lee Brinlee.

Pallbearers include: Stacy Chester, David Cullers, Joshua Gaines, Colton Lee, Landon Lee, Lance Simpson and Gregg Arden and Mike Clem. Honorary pallbearers are Ray Duck, Earl Gregory, Wilton McMorris, Jay Murray, Charlie Sickles and Alan Tiemeyer.

Memorials may be given to The Way Bible Church for “TWBC KIDS” on the twbcss.com app or mailed to TWBC at 674 FM 2560, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home, westoaksfuneralhome.com