Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

a permanent relationship with Sheryl. They dated for three years, postponing marriage until graduation. Mark graduated a year ahead of Sheryl, and used a scholarship to enroll in the University of Wyoming. Following her graduation, Sheryl received a scholarship to Harvard graduate school but gave it up to be with Mark. True Love! They were married in August 1965 and remained in Denver. After their marriage, Sheryl began teaching, and Mark returned to school to become eligible to teach. After a year, Mark was notified that he was eligible to be drafted. On an appeal, Mark was given a one year extension to teach. Then, Mark volunteered and was accepted by the U.S. Air Force as a candidate for officer’s training. Upon completion in 1966, he was sent to Texas A&M to study meteorology. Being in the military meant various assignments. Mark was sent to Vietnam as a Weather Officer, serving with the 101st Airborne Division. Following Vietnam, the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Mark attended night classes at The University of Nebraska earning an M.Ed. in Management. Later, he became the Commander of the Weather Detachment at Grissom AFB, Indiana. Mark served for 23 years in the Air Force, retiring as a Meteorologist with the rank of Lt. Colonel. During Mark’s military moves, Sheryl found teaching positions, teaching multiple types of mathematic courses. She put her career on hold with the birth of the first of their three sons in 1969. At all locations, she was involved with the children’s educational activities as well as holding a variety of laity positions in the United Methodist Church which they attended. Both Sheryl and Mark facilitated several small group, 12 week Methodist courses. While Mark was stationed in Germany, Sheryl taught the enlisted personnel, and the family traveled on elongated week-ends to many European countries. This travel, combined with having visited every state in the U.S., was an opportunity few people have experienced. In 1986, when Mark was transferred to LangleyAFB, Virginia, Sheryl taught in a university setting, including William and Mary, teaching calculus classes of 150 students! After Mark retired from the military in 1990, and their sons were in college or high school, Sheryl made the decision to return to school, earning a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Virginia in 1994. Following graduation, the family moved to Memphis where Sheryl began teaching in the College of Education, University of Memphis. Defeating a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, she continued to teach, write articles and grants and became tenured. Mark worked temporarily in real estate and various church activities. Mark and Sheryl confirmed their love for each other with a recommitment ceremony and reception in 2015 at their church. Their sons were Mark’s attendants; their wives and a sister-in-law were Sheryl’s. In 2016, the Maxwells moved to Kirby Pines, bringing their talents and a willingness to share with others. Written by Joan Dodson, Resident of Kirby Pines The Pinecone | January 2026 • 7 • Achieving a successful life requires motivation and commitment. Mark and Sheryl Maxwell define success as they have navigated through life’s obstacles; yet, they have maintained a loving relationship, achieved their employment goals, reared three successful sons and sustained a strong faith in God. Perhaps, Mark and Sheryl were destined for each other? Maybe, it has something to do with the fact that both had difficulty in establishing that they were born! The doctor who delivered Mark failed to file a birth certificate. When Mark was 16, his mother corrected that error by going to court and declaring, “I was present at his birth.” Sheryl’s misspelled name on her birth certificate and poor erasure with correction has always caused questions. We, at Kirby Pines, know that both Mark and Sheryl are real because of the invaluable contributions they have made during the ten years they have lived here. Who could forget them as “Ma and Pa Kettle” in the ‘Ham-Ateurs’ productions or Mark’s beautiful woodwork items? Both Mark and Sheryl are natives of Colorado. Mark was born in the small, mining town of Nucla. His family moved frequently but eventually settled in Durango; Mark graduated from high school in 1959. Sheryl Anne Demarcus was born in Denver and remained there until graduation from high school in 1961. Mark and Sheryl had what could be described as normal childhoods. Sheryl showed an early talent for music, learning to play the piano at four years old and the violin at eight. She became Concert Master or first violinist in several orchestras. Her accomplishments at an early age and a love for mathematics were precursors for her future life. Because of her academic prowess, she was placed in advanced classes in high school– even calculus! She graduated seventh out of a class of 700 students. For college,Markchoseacommunitycollegewhilealsoworkingpart-time in an oil exploration company. Sheryl received a scholarship to Colorado State College. She planned to teach and chose a major in mathematics with a minor in physics. Mark enrolled there following community college, choosing a major in physics with a minor in mathematics. They met, of course, in a calculus class! Mark always managed to sit close to Sheryl. Before class started, he would grab her homework to check his. “It was actually kind of a fun time for us,” recalls Sheryl. They began to date when Mark was challenged to find a date for himself and his friend within 15 minutes. He called Sheryl, who then talked her roommate into agreeing to go out on a double date. So, Mark won the bet and secured D E S T I N E D F O R S U C C E S S Resident Spotlight: Mark & Sheryl Maxwell Rehearsal Dinner 1965