Denise Kay Maxwell, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on May 10, 2025, at the age of 59.
Born on January 10, 1966, in Harlingen, Texas, Denise carried with her a spark that could light up a room—and often did. She devoted her 28+ year career to education, serving first as a teacher and later as a counselor for Plano ISD, Allen ISD, and Van Alstyne ISD. With compassion, humor, and fierce loyalty, she impacted the lives of hundreds of students, offering guidance, mentorship, and unwavering encouragement.
Denise was proud of her Choctaw heritage and had a deep passion for genealogy, often tracing family lines with curiosity and joy. She was a prankster at heart, -- playful, quick-witted, and always ready with a joke. Her sense of humor was matched only by her love for those around her.
Denise had a caretaker’s heart, often serving as the family's unofficial doctor, self-taught through endless hours of research and love-driven worry. She was funny, impish, and joyfully mischievous, with a laugh that lingered and a presence that comforted. She found great joy in painting, traveling, and spending time with those she held dear. Her loyalty was fierce, her love unconditional, and her counsel wise—whether it was offered to her family, her friends, or the many children whose lives she changed through her work.
She is survived by her devoted husband and best friend of 38 years, Nick Maxwell; her loving son and daughter-in-law, Kyle and Amanda Maxwell; her cherished granddaughter, Kinley Maxwell; and her beloved mother, Jenne (Virginia) Briedwell. She also leaves behind her sisters: Lisa McBee, Dana L. White (David), and Jalah K. Goette (Eric); her mother-in-law, Phyllis Maxwell; her nieces and nephews: Taylor Haun, Hannah White Klein, Dylan Reichle and Luke Goette; and many other cousins, family members, and beloved friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, William Briedwell; her father-in-law, Chuck Maxwell; and her nephew, Ryan Terrasa.
Services will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Visitation will be at 12:00 pm. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, followed by a graveside service. Pallbearers: Kyle Maxwell, Dylan Reichle, Mike Klein, and Eric Goette.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the foundation for Allen schools to help fund a memorial grant in Denise's honor. Grant priorities will include special education students as the target population and project goals which align with Denise's classroom and person-centered values. The grant projects will be for the 2026-2027 Allen ISD school year and recipients of the grant(s) will be made aware that the grant is given in Denise's memory. Donations may be made online or by sending a check to the foundation with a note or designation for Denise Maxwell.
Donations may be sent to the foundation for Allen schools online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ffas/ or by mail to:
Foundation for Allen Schools
c/o Allen ISD Administration Bldg.
612 East Bethany Drive
Allen, Texas 75002
For assistance contact regina.taylor@allenisd.org;
972-727-0362, exт.401462
Denise’s legacy will live on in the stories we tell, the beautiful art she created, the students she uplifted, and the love she poured into her family. Her absence is profound, but her spirit remains—vibrant, joyful, bright, bold, and beautifully unforgettable.