Carol Marie (Keck) Maddux

Carol Marie (Keck) Maddux, age 85, went home to be with Jesus and her husband Albert, the love of her life, on Saturday, February 6, 2021, in Fort Worth, TX. Carol was born December 31, 1935 to Mildred and Leo Keck at home in Excelsior Springs, MO. She was born with a physical handicap that affected her right side. Carol’s family worked alongside her to help minimize her disability. Consequently, she lived a full and vivacious life to which family and friends never saw her as having any disability. In her later years, the handicap became more of an issue and she wore a leg brace that made life more difficult. We are praising God with her now as she no longer needs the bulky brace and her body is perfect in Christ. She worked through the aging process and declining health to maintain the ability to walk which showed her determined attitude. Those close to her were inspired by her fierce determination, her spunk and feisty spirit.

The Keck family moved to Sedan, KS when Carol was a young girl. She forfeited the opportunity to be named valedictorian so that she could graduate High School in three years. She attended Philips University, then attended Nursing School at Saint Francis Hospital in Wichita, KS. She returned to Sedan, KS where she met young and handsome Albert Maddux, the VoAg teacher from Oklahoma. They married in Sedan on December 18, 1955.

Carol gave birth to Mitzi Carol, Michel Albert and Marilyn Sue in Sedan, KS. In 1959, Albert took a position as County Extension Agent in Chase County, KS where Michelle Maxine and Marietta Rae were born. The fall and winter of 1959 money was tight and there were lots of mouths to feed. Albert would hunt to make sure that the family had food to eat. God always provided. Carol shared that she cooked 69 pheasants that Fall. She cooked Pheasant every day, they may have been tired of Pheasant, but God provided.

The Maddux family moved to Garden City, KS in 1965, then to Scott City, KS in 1972. Carol was an active member of The First Southern Baptist Church of Garden City and of Immanuel Baptist Church in Scott City. She worked as a personal nurse for many years to sit by the bedside of critically ill patients. She used this opportunity to share her love for Christ. She demonstrated what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ as she ministered to those who were sick. One dear friend shared that their entire family came to a saving faith in Christ while Carol cared for her father during his sickness.

She went to work at Security State Bank in Scott City and was so proud to have the position as a bookkeeper, and later worked at Dunagan Iron Works. Albert and Carol retired to Manhattan, KS in 1996, where she was an active member of College Heights Baptist Church.

Albert passed away in 1999; they had celebrated 43 years of marriage. Carol moved to Saint George, KS in 2006 to join the home of Marietta and family and was an active part of their daily activities. She moved with Marietta and family to Fort Worth, TX in 2016.

Carol loved music and encouraged all her children to pursue music, both instrumental and vocal. One favorite Christmas tradition was Christmas Eve, with the “Maddux Band”. Mitzi with Oboe, Mike – Trumpet, Marilyn – Flute, Michelle – Clarinet and Marietta – French Horn. The children would play and sing Christmas carols following the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible by candlelight.

As part of her love of music, she excelled in vocal music, played the trombone and had top ratings at music contests. She was proud to be part of the Ladies ministry, Maranatha singers, in Scott City, and often sang vocal solos at church. Her children have precious memories of her sitting at the bedside singing them to sleep.

Carol loved God’s word. She had a daily Bible study/prayer time for more than 65 years of her life. She loved hymns and listening to Christian music. She played cards, loved wahoo, bingo, dominos, and all activities that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were involved with.

Carol devoted herself to her family, but she made sure that Christ was always number One in her life. She was a servant and a gracious woman. She never hesitated to assist anyone if she could.

She was content with her life as a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She did not need to have her own way. She endured camping and K-State football, 4-H river rafting, sports on TV and checking cattle – all because she loved Albert.

She is survived by her family that loves her and misses her deeply: One Sister, Patricia Fredrickson of Wamego, KS; five children, Mitzi Randall and husband David of Ainsworth, NE, Mike Maddux and wife Bertye of Woodland Park, CO, Marilyn Hiebsch and husband Carl of Wichita, KS, Michelle Spare and husband Randall of Ashland, KS and Marietta Milligan and husband Stephan of Fort Worth, TX; 21 Grandchildren, Matthew Randall, Amber Thorton, Stephanie Fling, Katie Maddux, Ruth Maddux, Cal Hiebsch, Chase Hiebsch, Chandler Lear, Colby Hiebsch, Cade Hiebsch, Colin Hiebsch, Anna Hasty, Bethany Spare, Mark Spare, Abigail Wiens, John Spare, Heath Gerstner, Heather Flagg, Rebecca Milligan, Samuel Milligan, Sarah Milligan; 36 Great Grand Children, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Albert, her parents, one brother Robert Keck and two grandsons Zachary Michel Albert and Joshua Vernon Maddux.

Visitation will be at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan, KS on Friday, February 12th from 5:00 p .m. until 7:00 p.m.

A memorial in honor of her home-going will be held at the funeral home on Saturday morning February 13th at 10:00 a.m. with Tim Gotchey officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery.