Tracey Ann Bentley Maxwell, age 51, passed away on Sunday, July 3, 2011, in Winter Park, Florida. From her birth in Hazen, North Dakota, on April 10, 1960, Tracey was known for her outgoing and vivacious nature which brightened the lives of those around her.
Tracey spent her early childhood years in Hazen, the middle child of three daughters born to James Carl and Jeanette Ellen (Sailer) Bentley. After attending school in Hazen, North Dakota; Bishop, California; and Lewisville, Texas, she graduated from Lewisville High School in 1978. Tracey married an avid pilot, Stephen C. Maxwell of Denton, Texas, on July 10, 1981, and so began her many travels throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia, Asia and Mexico – she was especially fond of the Cayman Islands. Tracey also enjoyed working in the airline industry as a customer service agent and manager. In November of 1997, Tracey’s journey of motherhood began with the adoption of Michael Allen and Anthony James who were born in Novgorod, Russia. She especially liked to lavish her sons with birthday parties and Christmas gifts. Her family moved to Peachtree City, Georgia, in 1999, where they raised their boys and in 2010, Tracey moved to Sanford, Florida.
Being generous brought her joy and she made donations throughout the years to Opportunity Village in Clear Lake Iowa where her Uncle, Vernon Nielsen (“Neil”) Bentley has been a resident for 25+ years. Tracey’s enjoyment of crafts began at a young age, having learned to knit and crochet from her grandmother, Helen Bentley. Other hobbies included cross-stitching, needlepoint and building large-scale doll houses. She was known for being a cat lover and awesome holiday decorator. She had a passion for playing league tennis and was captain of several successful teams. Tracey is remembered by her two sons, Michael A. Maxwell and Anthony J. Maxwell and their father, Stephen C. Maxwell all of Newnan, Georgia; her father James C. Bentley of Escondido, California; her sisters, Jo Marie Karam of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Michon K. (Joe) Morris of Wesley Chapel, North Carolina; and many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces. Tracey was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanette Ellen (Sailer) Bentley; grandparents Vernon E. and Helen M. (Nielsen) Bentley and Gotthold and Alvina (Sailer) Sailer.
A celebration of Tracey’s life will be determined at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Opportunity Village at .www.oppvill.org
