Gwynell Maxwell

Jean Gwynell Maxwell, age 88, passed away on November 29, 2025 in Denton, Texas. She was born on August 17, 1937 in Dallas, Texas to parents E.S. and Yvonne Conway.

Gwynell spent her childhood roller skating on the hilly sidewalks of Oak Cliff, playing accordion, and playing in the yard where the squirrels and birds all had names. She attended Oak Cliff High School where she participated in theater, quiz kids, National Honor Society, newspaper and yearbook. For the school marching band, she twirled baton, marched in the color guard, and served on the drill team.

Gwynell attended North Texas State College (now UNT), where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism as well as her teacher certification. She was a top student respected by her professors and classmates and was inducted into the Mortar Board Honor Society.

Gwynell met her husband, Roy, while she was student teaching at Oak Cliff High School, where he was teaching. They married and moved to Ada, Oklahoma so that Roy could take a position at East Central University. While there, Gwynell obtained a Masters of Education degree from East Central University.

Gwynell began teaching at Ada Junior High, then Ada High School, and later at East Central University. She taught English, theater, speech, and journalism. As a teacher, she was charismatic, beloved, and always surrounded by students.

In the 1980's, Gwynell started her business career. She opened Polar Bear Ice Cream Parlor in Ada and was in business there for over 10 years.

Gwynell loved to travel. She and Roy were able to take many trips all over the world. Other interests included attending local plays and musicals, keeping up with politics, news, and sports (especially her beloved OU Sooners), watching movies (new and old), and following her favorite actors' careers.

Gwynell is survived by daughters, Janet and Donna; sons-in-law, Lee and Jonathan; grandchildren, Becca and Juliana; and her beloved cat, Buddy. She was always proud of her daughters' and grandchildren's intellectual and artistic pursuits. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

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