Raymond Weaver Maxwell was released from his physical bonds this morning, October 10th, 2016. He has gone on to meet his Maker and be reunited with his lifelong love and best friend Pauline Ruth (Hora) Maxwell. Born June 6th, 1929 in Glenwood, Iowa to Weaver M. and Grace L. (Benedict) Maxwell. Ray was their eldest son of the four boys, Russell E., Marvin G. and Myron D. The family moved to Omaha and lived on a small dairy farm located near the current site Boys Town. Later moving to North Platte in 1942 where his father went to work for the UPRR. It was then that Ray and Pauline met in high school and their journey through life began. They married on Sept. 8th, 1947 and they were blessed with three sons. Enlisting in the Navy in 1948 and spent five years between active duty, stationed on the small island of Guam in the Pacific for 18 months, and the reserves stateside. Upon returning home to Pauline and son, Jeffrey, born in 1948 after Ray left for the service, they started building a life and raising a family in North Platte. Richard, arriving in 1953, and Thomas, born in1956, would complete the family. Raymond hired on with the UPRR in 1949 transferring to engine service as a Fireman, steam engine era, shoveling coal to stoke the boiler and retired as a Locomotive Engineer in 1989. The biggest change he talked about was going home at night while steam engines filled the roundhouse and coming back the next day and finding nearly all diesel electric locomotives. In those day’s layoffs where frequent and sometimes quite long, so Ray joined the North Platte Fire Dept. as a paid firefighter and as time went on remained active as a volunteer firefighter. It was during this time that he met Robert Turner, also a member of the Fire Department, who owned a fledgling fire equipment business. After working together for a couple of years Ray and Pauline purchased the business and it became North Platte Fire Equipment. The business still remains active after 60 plus years. Being one to enjoy stock car racing, Raymond volunteered his time and services at the local track every season providing fire protection for the drivers and crew members in case of an accident. He was an avid fan of NASCAR to the end. One year, during the mid to late 1960’s, taking the family to Denver to watch one of the big races on closed circuit broadcast being shown at one of the theatres. As their children were growing up, Cub and Boy Scouts became a big part of the Maxwell family. Ray made time to be a Cub master, Cody school, and later a Scout Master for 12 years with troop 295 hosted by the Presbyterian Church. During these years Raymond became a member of the Moose Lodge, the Elks Lodge and most important to him was a Free Mason and Shriner. He would remain as an active member for the rest of his life. Raymond, with the help of Pauline, embarked the most “Top Secret” of missions in North Platte. Every year during the holiday season he would wear the Red Suit and become SANTA CLAUS. His inspiration came from Leo Anderson, who owned Leo’s Flowers. Leo would put up this marvelous display of SANTA’S Workshop at his business, then go out and be Santa Claus to groups and individual families. When Leo retired he encouraged Raymond to take the job and become ‘The Claus’. Ray embraced his new found SECRET occupation and with the help of Pauline, code name “Rudolph”, she would drive him to his location and wait the motor running so they could leave quickly and those who tried to follow were left wondering where Santa had gone. It was truly magical that he could disappear so quickly. Now the 1970’s have come and at the urging of his brother Russell a trip to Baja California took place. While there we experienced the excitement of Off Road racing. On trips that followed, the Chevy Blazer Ray owned, came home with white spoke wheels and bigger tires, grill guard, driving lights and many other things that were available in California but unheard of in Nebraska. People were always stopping by wanting to know if we could get these things for them and a small enterprise sprang up in the garage. From there a new family business arose and in 1975 Maxwell’s Off Road Center was open for business. Ray loved his new sport and got to meet so many new people, actor James Garner, Mickey Thompson, Roger and Rick Mears (later Indy car fame), Ivan Stewart, Rob Gordon (father of racer Robbie Gordon), Parnelli Jones, Frank Vessels and many more. Ray raced in some of the events in the Arizona and Nevada desert courses competing in a VW powered single seat buggy. Raymond was preceded in death by his wife Pauline, Mother and Father, youngest brother Myron and his favorite brother in law Jack Hora. He is survived by his children Jeffrey Ray (Lucy), Richard David (Dee Ann), Thomas William (Georgia) and close family friend Mike DuTemple, five grandchildren, Christa (John) Shogren, Gregg (Shannon) Maxwell, Gilbert Gaona, Emily and Tyler Maxwell. Seven great grandchildren , Breahna Shogren, Nissa and Katelynn Maxwell, Chandler, Camron, Caiden and Caleb Gaona, Brothers Russell E. and Marvin G. Maxwell and their families, Nephew John (Cece) Bates and their children. Raymond leaves behind his very special Furry Friend Clyde. The family request in lieu of flowers donations are suggested to the Raymond Maxwell Memorial Fund or the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Services will be 11:00 am Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 pm Sunday and 9am to 8 pm Monday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.