Nona Lee Maxwell died peacefully in her home on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
A native Texan, Nona was born in Galveston and was the eldest daughter of Ver n o n an d Nona Dymke.
She was raised in Rockdale, where she began developing her lifelong passion for art and music. Her mother dutifully drove Nona from Rockdale to Houston every Saturday for Nona’s voice lessons. Her beautiful soprano voice earned her a scholarship to North Texas University.
However, Nona had fallen in love with Sidney L. Maxwell, also of Rockdale. She chose to put her studies on hold and they married on July 2, 1955.
Prior to marriage, Sid accepted a commission to the United States Air Force. They began their 56-year life adventure first moving to Rapid City, South Dakota. As Sid’s career took their family across the United States and Canada, Nona always made family the center of their lives.
Throughout her life, Nona remained committed to music and art while raising their three children, Debbie, Becky and Sid II. She managed to balance motherhood while being an artist, often taking her children on art “field trips.” Her children vividly remember watching while she sketched “The Washburn Church” near Canyon or the creek beds of the Saguaro National Forest. Her talents even involved creating a lifesized ice sculpture titled: “The Wonders of Man” in Goose Bay, Labrador.
After Sid retired from the Air Force, the family moved to Rockdale. Nona then received her bachelor’s in education with a minor in art from the University of Texas in Austin.
For many years, Nona and Sid taught and impacted the lives of many Rockdale second- grade students.
While members of the Rockdale First Christian Church, Nona directed a youth handbell choir, the Alpha and Omega Ringers. Each summer the bell choir went on “tour,” even playing at the National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C.
Once retired from the RISD, Nona and Sid moved to the Texas Hill Country.
They enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and traveling abroad.
Nona was especially proud of being a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO). Nona and Sid were members of St. Helena’s Episcopal Church in Boerne, where they will be interred.
In their final years, Nona and Sid moved closer to their son, Sid II, in Spicewood, where they were members of Spirit in the Hills Lutheran Church.
Nona leaves a legacy of love and kindness in each of her children, former students and former handbell ringers.
She will be remembered for years to come through her beautiful art, brightening the homes of friends and family.
Nona was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney Maxwell, and infant daughter, Diane Elizabeth.
She is survived by her children, Debbie and Dave Kaiser, Becky and Corey Christensen, and Sid and Karen Maxwell; her beloved niece, Samantha, married to Byron Booker; her grandchildren, Brian and Katie Boswell, Thomas and Michelle Kaiser, Blake and Meagan Boswell, Samuel Kaiser, Austin and Magen Maxwell, and Zachary Maxwell; great-grandchildren Braeden Boswell, Emma Boswell, June Boswell, Elsie Boswell, Bear Boswell, Jett Boswell and Riza Maxwell.
Her children would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Nona’s New Century Hospice caregivers: Jon Godby, Clydie Taylor and Shona Wilson. Their love and compassion for Nona was beyond our expectations.
A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Spirit in the Hills Lutheran Church, 2106 Bee Creek Road in Spicewood.
Memorial gifts may be given to Spirit in the Hills – Nona Maxwell Memorial Fund at Spiritinthehills.org/give/ or texting a dollar amount to 512-648-5542 or send check to Spirit in the Hills – Nona Maxwell Memorial Fund, 2106 Bee Creek Road, Spicewood, TX; or Philanthropic Education Organization, Chapter IG online, peointernational.org, Chapter IG Marble Falls.