Percy C Maynord

Percy Carwell Maynord, age 94, of Fairhope, Alabama, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, May 18, 2014. A funeral service, conducted by Dr. Jerry Henry of the First Baptist Church of Fairhope, was held at the Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 21. Honorary pallbearers were Wesley and Aubrey Grant; and members of his breakfast and coffee groups, including Don Buell, Dr. Jack Campbell, Don Duke, Joe Faust, Thomas Garrick, Dan Heffern, John McDonald, Jerry Middleton, Harold Thompson, Garth White, Bob Whitley, and host David Jewett. Interment followed the next day at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham with military honors. Percy was born in Birmingham on January 21, 1920 and was a graduate of Ensley High School. He followed his father, Wiley Maynord, into employment at U. S. Steel’s Fairfield Works after high school. After convincing his employer to release him from his exemption from military service, he volunteered for the Army Air Corp. Wanting to be a fighter pilot, he entered the service in 1942 and served at air bases in Texas, training air crew navigators. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, while his brother was invading Normandy, he married his sweetheart, Margaret Dean Harris. Upon his discharge from the service in September 1945, they remained in Austin, Texas, where he founded P. C. Maynord Company, a supplier and servicer of meat processing equipment. Over the next 40 years, his customers included meat markets all over central Texas, as well the startups that became Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, Schlotzsky’s, and Whole Foods Market. During the late ‘60’s and early 70’s, he also owned and operated a grocery store with a specialty meat market on South Congress Avenue. During his 60 years as a resident of Austin, Texas, Percy and Dean raised three sons. He was a Life Membership deacon of Congress Avenue Baptist Church, where he enjoyed playing on and coaching church softball teams. Percy was recognized for his multi-decade support of the Texas Baptist Buckner’s Boys Ranch. He was an avid hunter, and in 1963 he realized one of his dreams, by buying 220 acres of farm and ranch land northwest of Austin. Following his retirement in 1985, Percy and Dean enjoyed visiting their children and their families and travelling with close friends Bob and Lolly Campbell. During these travels they visited 49 of the 50 States, and most of the Canadian Provinces. After multiple 700-mile trips per year to coastal Alabama to look after Margaret’s sister who was in assisted living—the 85 year-olds were looking after the 100 year-old!—they moved to Fairhope in 2005. The seller of the house they bought, Bob Whitley, became his new best friend. He also found fast and true friends in his morning breakfast group at Julwin’s Restaurant and afternoon coffee group at Waffle House. They joined others who love Christ at First Baptist Church. It was a great move for them at that stage of their life! Percy was preceded in death by his parents, Wiley and Catherine Maynord; and brothers William, Elbert and Richard. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Margaret; sons Chris (Connie) of Goodlettsville, TN, Steve (Beverly) of St. Joseph, LA, and Harris (Denise) of Fairhope, AL; grandchildren Natalie Taylor, Dominic Barnes, Alicia Samuels, Matthew Barnes, Dudley Maynord, Maggie Nasif, Katie Maynord, and Clare Satow; and great-grandchildren Evan Cude, Annalyn Samuels, Andrew Nasif, Lucy Nasif, Alex Maynord, Brandon Maynord, and Madison Maynord. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Camp Buckner, Burnet, TX 78611.