EDNA — Granval Guy Maxson, 86, of Edna died at 11:52 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, at Labette Health in Parsons. He and his wife, Mary, had recently been residing in the Presbyterian Manor in Parsons.

He was born Oct. 4, 1923, in rural Edna to Irvin R. and Geneva (Duncan) Maxson. He grew up in Edna and graduated from Edna High School. He attended Coffeyville Junior College, where he played football as a member of the 1941 and 1942 undefeated Red Raven teams.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Naval Air Corps, where he earned his wings and was a fighter pilot.

After the war, he returned to the Edna area and joined his brothers in the family business, Maxson Livestock Commission Co., which later became Maxson Sales Co. Inc., with locations in Welch and South Coffeyville, Okla. He also farmed and operated a ranch, as well as being a licensed auctioneer and operating Maxson Real Estate Co.

He was a member of First Christian Church of Parsons, Edna Lodge No. 345, A.F. & A.M., the Fort Scott Consistory and the Mirza Shrine at Pittsburg. For a number of years, he served as a trustee of the Labette County Medical Center. A descendant of the famous Cherokee leader Nancy Ward, Guy was a member of the Cherokee Nation and the Cherokee National Historic Society.

On May 9, 1966, he married Mary (White) Steinmitz at Central Avenue Christian Church in Parsons. She survives of Parsons.

Other survivors include three sons, Bill Maxson and his wife, Cherie, of West Des Moines, Iowa, David Maxson and his wife, Diane, of Girard and Jack Steinmitz and his wife, Mary Ann, of Claremore, Okla.; seven daughters, Taunya Rutenbeck and her husband, Larry, of Wichita, Susaun Tracy and her husband, James, of Coffeyville, Chris Herrmann and her husband, Tom, of Tulsa, Cathie Amos and her husband, John, of Birmingham, Ala., Connie VanHarn and her husband, John, of Tulsa, Cindie Kees and her husband, Gary, of Reading, Pa., and Charlette Sears and her husband, Joe, of Lawton, Okla.; 27 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; a brother, Dale Maxson and his wife, Winifred, of Edna; and a sister, Wanda Lee Ladage and her husband, Curt, of Parsons.

Preceding him in death was a grandson, Clark Amos; a granddaughter, Sydney Tracy; brothers and their wives, Wauyaugh and Ruth Maxson and Carval and Bessie Dean Maxson; and a sister and her husband, Wauneta and Bob Moore.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery, with military honors given by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends at Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Memorials are suggested to either First Christian Church or the Labette Health Foundation.