Annette Maxine (Bagley) Godsey

Annette “Maxine" Godsey was born September 16, 1923 at home near Vernon, to Arthur Walter and Alice Catherine Beach Bagley. She passed peacefully July 16, 2016 at the age of 92.

Maxine was the middle sibling in a family of five children. The family lived in Vernon during the winters and anxiously anticipated the summers when they would move to their homestead west of Vernon or to the Shield's Ranch on the Arickaree River. The brothers and sisters rode the hills and canyons on horseback and waded or went swimming in the river or pools.

Maxine always enjoyed reading. Her father, a principal at Vernon, kept her in reading material. Her younger brother always teased her about reading instead of getting her chores done. But, Maxi ne was a hard worker and a great help to her mother. She learned to grow beautiful gardens and make lawns come back to life. She canned food and was always busy sewing or crocheting. They prepared meals on a stove that used corn cobs and cow chips. Water and electricity was put into the house w hen she was about fourteen. She lived through the depression and the Dirty Thirties when dirt storms blocked out the sun. Maxine was a perfectionist. Whatever she did, she worked at until it met her own high standards.

Maxine met her husband, Dallas, in high school at Eckley. She was living with her grandparents since she didn't have transportation to get into town on an everyday basis. Maxine and Dallas's friendship blossomed into a lifelong romance. The two became engaged before Dallas enlisted for World War II and left for Europe. While Dallas was gone, Maxine attended Colorado State College of Agriculture, now Colorado State University , in Ft. Collins for one year on a scholarship. She then transferred to Colorado State College of Education in Greeley for one year. Her dream was to become an elementary school teacher. Her first position was teaching all eight grades at Mt. Hope near Vernon and later in Vernon. When Dallas returned, they were married on October 5, 1945. Maxine continued teaching until their daughter Cheryl Annette was born in 1946. Then Maxine was thrilled to become a mother and homemaker. Donald Arthur was born in 1948. Cheryl became ill with leukemia and there wasn't much that could be done medically at that time. Much to their heartbreak, Cheryl passed away in the spring of 1952 at the age of 5 1/2.
Berna Lee was born that fall , and though Cheryl could never be replaced, Berna helped ease the ache.

Maxine belonged to the Socialite Club and Meadowlark Extention Club. She especially enjoyed sewing classes after retiring.

Maxine and Dallas were baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1951. They remained active as long as they were able to drive to Yuma. The church has now been renamed the Community of Christ. She was a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher for several years.

When her children started school, Maxine returned to teaching. She taught two or three grades at a time in Eckley. During this time she had been taking correspondence courses to obtain her Bachelor of Art' s Degree. Since the children were older, she was now able to attend summer school at UNC in Greeley and graduated in 1962. She completed her teaching career at Yuma Elementary by teaching the 4th grade.
Berna remembers her mother often staying up until midnight or 1:00 a.m. grading papers or making lesson plans. The next morning would start out at 6:00 a.m. She seldom took sick days and almost never took a personal day. Nothing was done in haste or left undone. Every child she taught was special to her. Maxine taught for over thirty years and influenced many children's lives.

After retirement, Maxine and Dallas remodeled the house on the farm that was honored as a Centennial Farm in 1987. t was hard work, but very rewarding. During this time, Maxine's mother was living in Wray, and Maxine and Dallas would make a 24 mile roundtrip each day to see her. A lice was in Renotta for ten years and Maxine would lovingly curl her hair or bring her a special food that she liked.

Maxine was proud of her 5 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren . Her eyes always lighted up when they entered a room. She was delighted by the fact that the 6th generation of Godsey 's are now living on the farm.

Maxine and Dallas were able to travel extensively during their lives together. They especially enjoyed trips throughout the U.S. as well as trips to Hawaii, Central Mexico, and Europe to explore where Dallas served during the war as well as where their ancestors came from.

Maxine was preceded in death by parents Arthur and Alice Bagley, daughter, Cheryl Annette, sister Janiece, three brothers Rex, Max, and Walter Thaine Bagley, sister-in-laws Betty and Virginia Bagley, and brother-in-law Chet Hawkins.

Maxine is survived by husband Dallas of 70 years, son Donald and wife Deborah Godsey of the homestead farm near Wray, and daughter Berna and husband Kenneth Richardson of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Berna and Ken have enjoyed living in Wray with Dallas since 2014. Maxine's grandchildren are Ryan, and wife Susan, of Wray, Colorado. Chad and wife Melanie, of Wray, Colorado, Derek and wife Susanne of Sterling, Colorado, Sara Weston of Laramie, Wyoming and Michael Weston of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her
great-grandchildren are Taylor, Megan, Karly, Drew, Madison, Grady, Joseph, Grace and Allison Godsey. She is also survived by brothers Gail Bagley of Greeley, Colorado and Darrel Bagley and wife Traudy of Bonanza, Oregon and sister Betty Jo Hawkins of Ottumwa, Iowa and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 21st at 10:00 A.M. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home located at 427 South Adams Street in Wray, Colorado. Pastor Mitchell Korf of the Community of Christ will be officiating.
Interment will follow at the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado.

Memorials can be made to Hospice of the Plains or a charity of your choice.

Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.