Eloise Jeanette Maxey (Jean), 88, of Greeley passed away peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2018, at her home southeast of Greeley.
Jean was born to Elno and Florence (Norman) Hohlt on Oct. 23, 1929, in Kinmundy, Ill. She graduated from Farina High School in 1948 and from Washington University's School of Nursing in St Louis, Mo. in 1951. She was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ in Farina, where she married George Maxey on Dec. 26, 1950. The couple moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., when George was stationed at F. E. Warren AFB in 1951. They moved to the farm two miles west of Kersey in October 1954 where George was herdsman for C.W. Henry and Jean served as a private nurse for Mrs Henry during her battle with cancer. The couple later purchased the herd and land, eventually naming it Maxey Farms.
An integral part of the dairy farm operation, Jean daily fed calves, carried milk, washed equipment and helped keep records on the registered Holstein herd for more than 45 years. She also enjoyed time spent...[more]

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her tractor raking alfalfa hay. Until her passing, she remained an active member of Colorado Dairy Women.
In 1966 Jean became the first school nurse employed by Platte Valley Schools in Kersey, a position she loved and held for 29 years. She maintained an 8-bed sick bay, engaged teams of volunteers to help her conduct vaccination clinics, vision and hearing screenings, and coordinate sports physical clinics. She taught health classes and went on many home visits. Before there was an EMT presence, she attended all home sporting events to provide medical assistance. Following her retirement in 1995, Jean continued her connection with the school through attendance at athletic events and support of the community until one month before her passing. She enjoyed regular fellowship with the retired teachers and staff from Platte Valley.
In addition to nursing, Jean participated in several home extension clubs in her area: Auburn Progressive, Pleasant Valley Home Demonstration, and the West Kersey clubs. She was a leader for the Box Elder Home Ec 4-H Club for many years. Jean served two terms on the advisory board for the Weld County Department of Public Health.
For more than 60 years she was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Greeley (now Cornerstone Community), where she taught the 2-year-old Sunday School class for 19 years, and was active in the Mariners and Ancient Mariners Clubs.
Jean spent hours every summer in her quarter-acre garden, planning, raising, preserving and sharing produce with many, feeding her family and others. She was a precursor of the farm-to-table movement; fresh, whole, raw milk was served at nearly every meal, and she especially liked making fried chicken. Staff at Platte Valley as well as many neighbors and friends enjoyed her from-scratch baked goods. She was also an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed sewing, whether Easter dresses for her daughters, uniforms for herself, patches for farm coveralls, or hems on baseball officials' pants. Jean avidly followed the Colorado Rockies, the Denver Nuggets, and Platte Valley athletics.
Above all, Jean was mother to five children, grandmother to 16, and great-grandmother to 20. All were considered her "favorite." Known by family and friends for her ability to remember details, including names and relationships spanning several generations, she made everyone feel special and loved. Many received cards or letters from her hand. She will be missed.
Jean is survived by her husband of 67 years, George; children, Debra (Calvin) Helus of Colorado Springs, Peggy (Karl) Anderson of Bow, Wash., Keith (Lynn) Maxey, Teresa (Rick) Sponaugle, and Jeff (DeAnne) Maxey, all of rural Greeley.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by infant brothers Frederick and James, close friend and brother Jack Hohlt; and grandson Spencer Ervin.
Services are at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 3, at Cornerstone Community Church, 1321 9th Ave., Greeley. Condolences, as well as any memorial contributions, may be sent to the family in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, Colo. 80631. Gifts can be designated for the "Jean Maxey Memorial Scholarship Fund" for Platte Valley students entering the health sciences field, or to the "Memorial Fund" at Cornerstone Community Church.