Percy Carwell Maynord, 94, of Fairhope, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, May 18, 2014.
Percy was born in Birmingham on Jan. 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 Corps.
Wanting to be a fighter pilot, he entered the service in 1942 and served at air bases in Texas, training aircrew 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 Co., 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 ‘60s and early ‘70s, he also owned and operated a grocery store with a specialty meat market on South Congress Avenue.
During his 60 years as residents of Austin, 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 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 traveling 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, Tenn., Steve (Beverly) of St. Joseph, La. and Harris (Denise) of Fairhope; 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.
A funeral service conducted by Dr. Jerry Henry of First Baptist Church of Fairhope was held at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 21, 2014.
