In early Spring of ’51, Reed Maxfield and his wife Cena Arilla Chappel ignored the speed limits, driving their old, black two-door Dodge the 60 miles from their beautiful ranch near Bicknell, Wayne County, to Salina, UT, racing to arrive at the hospital in time for their 6th child’s birth. Kenra Maxfield was born there on March 30th, and the world was never quite the same for them or anyone else fortunate enough to get to know her. She grew up a sweet, perhaps a bit spoiled, farm girl, loving her adventures with her younger brother, Kevin, and her many cousins and friends. She went off with the family to their larger ranch down a hundred miles away at Hite, UT where her father ran the ferry across the Colorado River, the only crossing for 250 miles around. Largely isolated from others, there she learned to make great fun from whatever was available, including pets, wildlife, the river, the old native ruins and outlaw hideaway cabins. Her idyllic life was turned upside down when at 6 years old, her Daddy fell into the river and drowned. Eventually, with the growing waters of Lake Powell about to overflow the ranch, Arilla took Kenra and Kevin back to the Bicknell ranch and worked hard to make a go of it there. Kenra stayed with her brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts during school for several years. Eventually, Arilla loaded her and Kevin up in the car, left the ranch and moved to the Salt Lake Valley. Soon afterwards Arilla met and married a widower, Glen Paulsen and moved into his home. Glen was the grandfather of Randy Stansfield, who was to become the love of Kenra’s life.
Kenra graduated from West High and enrolled in Snow College. She and Randy married at 19 while students there. After Snow they went to the University of Utah, until Randy was drafted into the Army. Then began a 31-year Army adventure of raising a growing family of 6 children in 9 different states and three countries. Everywhere she went Kenra magically transformed humble quarters into beautiful, family and gospel centered works of art. She taught early morning Seminary in North Carolina, Virginia, S. Korea and Hawaii. Her homemaking and culinary skills were legendary, and she mothered her family with wisdom, hard work and heart work. She and Randy worked continually with youth, and she continually received love from the hundreds whose lives she impacted. She was active in the Officer Wives clubs helping young Army families to adjust to their new life. She remained an active and serving member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout her life serving in the Primary, Relief Society and Young Women’s programs.
Her many friends recall her wonderful love for all. Fascinated by and deeply interested in people, Kenra was an avid and active listener, so others felt profoundly heard and important, because they were. Kenra taught her children to confidently respect and honor others with dignity and grace. She was a gracious host and gave every guest VIP treatment. Randy soon came to realize that most of their marriage there would be some friend or relative or a stranger she befriended staying at the house, enriching our lives as hopefully we did theirs.
Primarily a home maker, she was also a frequent entrepreneur, owner of varied works such as home pre-school, candy making, food stocking, flower shop and vacation rental. As North Carolina’s “Lollipop Lady” she was the keynote speaker at the North Carolina Professional Women’s Conference
All her children and grandchildren call her blessed and beloved. Each knows that in some measure they are her favorite. She is their example, the one they strive to be like. To them, this nice gathering is but a shell of the full-scale ticker tape parade she has earned.
Randy calls her his bride and queen. Their 53-year journey is one never to be duplicated, full of love and adventure. From humble beginnings where few thought they had a chance, they thrived and built a legacy of togetherness, loyalty and romance. In tough times Kenra’s fire and fierceness kept the family solid and steady. You see, her joyous and loving nature hid a backbone of country-girl steel, and she was a mama bear not to be crossed when her family was involved. Randy often said that she, not he, was the real paratrooper in the family.
She loved most anything involving the family, particularly traveling and long road trips, watching her kids’ sports, entertaining others, family gatherings and home evenings, nice restaurants, outdoor adventures, racquetball, snorkeling and kayaking in the ocean and raising Monarch butterflies.
Twenty-four years ago, her battle with cancer began. Through three different iterations she fought that villain to a stalemate. In the end, it was a truce, and the Lord called her home to labor and love in another realm.
Kenra’s proud and loyal legacy include her husband, Colonel Randell Glen Stansfield; six children, Mindy Lee (Stephen) Koch, Matthew Paul (Kerrilyn) Stansfield, Nathen Randell Stansfield, Daniel Gard Stansfield, Thomas Reed (Jamie) Stansfield and Molly Brooke (Sa) Tanuvasa.; Twenty-five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Also, numerous others who lived or stayed in her home and those who continue to call her “Mama” for dear friends of her kids were one of the family.
Friends and family will gather for her at the Layton Legacy Stake Center at 752 N 3700 W in Layton, UT on Monday morning, Jan 15, viewing starting at 9, Funeral Service at 11 a.m. followed by refreshments and an open mike in the Cultural Hall. She will then once again take a road trip, no speed limits broken this time, 36 miles away to Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park for interment in the family mausoleum there.
Flowers are welcome as are donations in her name to the Huntsman Cancer Fund at give.huntsmancancer.org
To join the service via Zoom please follow the link below:
https://zoom.us/j/95425348429__;!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!Kk6Z_2nNlxrQ-rRVUMhUfdPl44OwsNJHWINaRo28mkCZf4eDAkVFu5Lit3RUv2vEygx4orFPvzHqF6-KvPKZpUg1Yv9Q1PCHZn0$
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