The Life of MAYNARD LEO BOATWRIGHT
Maynard Leo Boatwright, 87, died June 14, 2013. Services will be Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 3100 Easton Blvd. The family will greet friends Tuesday, June 18, 2013, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens.
Maynard, born Christmas Eve 1925, was a gift to his parents, Fannie Alice (Speck) and Kenneth Leo Boatwright, and to his family and friends.
A life-long resident of Des Moines, Maynard graduated from East High in 1944, where he won many track competitions and later was inducted into the Des Moines East High Athletic Hall of Fame.
Maynard married Marcene Frances (McCollum) in 1947, and had three children: Dan Maynard, Michael Dean, and Cynthia May. After Maynard and Marcene’s divorce, Maynard met Barbara Lee (Moorman) Frantz while working part-time at the Iowa Children and Family Services. They wed August 6, 1960, and Maynard became stepfather to Barbara’s children: Gary Dean and Steven Kirk.
The family joined First Presbyterian Church, where Maynard served many roles until his death. He also worked Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners provided by the East Des Moines Cluster of Churches.
Maynard first worked at his brother’s plating shop, then joined the Des Moines Fire Department in 1951. He advanced through the ranks and retired as District Fire Chief Training Officer in 1987. Maynard’s co-workers became his best friends. Off the job, he helped establish and operate the Hall of Flame at the Iowa State Fair. He was active in the Des Moines Association of Professional Fire Fighters, along with other firefighter associations, and judged firefighter competitions.
After Maynard’s retirement, he became a doorkeeper for the Iowa House of Representatives. Maynard returned each session for the next 23 years. He was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms and retired in 2011.
Maynard led a Boy Scouts Webelo troop, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. He ran bingo games for Baldwin Patterson American Legion Post 274 and served as Post Commander. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle in parades with the Elks Lodge 98, as well as golfing, bowling, pitching horseshoes, and socializing at the lodge.
Maynard’s dedication to his family extended to all generations before and after him. Weekends were often spent water skiing. Vacations he spent traveling at home and abroad. Maynard avidly supported his kids and grandkids in all their activities. He and Barbara threw fun-filled pool parties and holiday snow-tubing parties.
Maynard is survived by a brother, Kenneth Boatright Jr.; his sons, Dan, Michael (Cindy), Gary, and Steven (Colleen) Boatwright; his daughter, Cynthia (Mark) Perkins; grandchildren, Jennifer (Chad) Peterson, Kevin (Chris) Mann, Jennifer (Pete) Kellis, Eric (Laura) Boatwright, Jennifer (Scott) Cheskiewicz, Jodine (Aaron Loehrlein) Perkins, Tony (Amy) Perkins, Michael Boatwright, and Sara Boatwright; great-grandchildren, Alex and Ty Peterson, Peyton and Kamryn Kellis, Griffin and Katherine Mann, Casey and Kileigh Boatwright, Eleanor Loehrlein, and Kelenn Perkins.
Maynard’s parents, and siblings, Ethel Piper and Mary (Tiny) Katzmann, preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution to his church is suggested.