Vera Maxine Brunton

Vera "Maxine" Brunton was born in Denver, Colorado on August 22, 1931 to Joe and Kathleen-Haston Smith. She died in her home in Westminster, Colorado on March 6, 2009.

Maxine was raised in Denver with her brother and sister. She graduated from East High School in 1950, and married Ronald Burke Brunton that same year. In 1958, they purchased a house in Westminster where their four children were raised; the plan was to find a home and live there the rest of their lives – which is exactly what they did. Swimming and playing in "the pool" in the back yard, friends and family could hear Maxine laughing and talking about the Model A she built herself, as a child playing tackle football in the streets with the neighborhood boys, and camping and fishing in the most remote parts of Colorado and then later at the cabin her dad bought and shared. A true sports fanatic, she rooted for the home teams – if they were affiliated with Denver or any of her children or grandchildren, one would be considered a traitor not to enthusiastically cheer on that team. She supported the booster club, loved to bowl, went to every activity her in which her children were involved, and never found a bargain she could resist. In 1980 Ronnie died, so Maxine kept their dream of home and family going for the remainder of her life.

Maxine was devoted, proud and unflinching in her belief systems – family should always come first, vote in every election and vote democratic, unions are a good thing, FDR and the New Deal is still the real deal, a person should never tell a lie, and America and Colorado specifically is the best place in the world! First and foremost, however, Maxine made an honorable career of being a mom. She believed in and personified fairness - in times of pride or disappointment, success or failure, kindness or anger, Maxine acknowledged every birthday, Christmas, visit or event equally; a member of her family could be assured that her devotion to them was unconditional.

It is impossible to separate Maxine's love for her family from her connection to her home. Each nook, closet and corner holds a cook book or a trophy or some useful tool or material; and she knew where everything was and what everything was for. She grew a beautiful garden every year, of which she was rightfully very proud. Her kitchen filled the air with smells of the most delicious soups, chili, spaghetti, ribs, famous Maxine-Thanksgiving-rolls, candies, cookies and cornbread; she could cook! She was very independent and took care of her home with great pride and love. Her final wish was that she never have to leave that home. With the help of her family, she was able to say good bye to her oldest friend, her house in Westminster, from the chair in the living room where one would often find her drinking a steaming cup of coffee and watching a Bronco game.

Maxine is survived by her children Kim Brunton (wife Barb), Kerry Brunton (wife Lona), Kathy Carrier, and Kandi Kaeding (husband David); her grandchildren Christina Walters (husband Scott and children Andrew and Elizabeth), Kenny Brunton (wife Darci and son Preston), Abbylee Brunton, Cody Brunton, Trent Carrier, Sarah Kaeding and Charlotte Kaeding; her sister Jackie Simmons and her brother Joe Smith (wife Sharon). She was preceded in death by her husband Ronald Burke Brunton, her father Joe Smith and her mother Kathleen Haston Smith.