Gayla Jean Maxfield

Gayla Jean Maxfield

It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce Gayla, 76, passed away on December 10, 2025 from complications related to early onset dementia. The celebration of Gayla's life will take place January 6 at 10:00am at Schrader's Funeral Home, 2222 Russell Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001.

Gayla had a natural ability to connect with people and make anyone feel like the most important person in the room. When she talked to you, you received all of her attention. She radiated joy, laughed easily, and had a zest for life that drew people to her. She enjoyed wearing bright colors, especially red. She also loved flowers, animals, music, Scrabble, and camping. Her capacity for delight in all of life’s offerings was contagious.

Gayla was born on October 11, 1949, in Marietta, Ohio, to Bill and Donna Yester. Her childhood was shaped by the Wyoming oil fields where she grew up. She spent her days on the prairie with her younger brothers Charlie and Martin, and she was, by all accounts, rather mischievous. She would do anything for fun and adventure: at age six, she jumped off the kitchen table over chairs until she broke her collarbone; at age 12 she would take her brothers out in the family car when her parents were away; as a teenager she once ventured through a miles-long irrigation tunnel under the Cody mountains. She loved tumbling and gymnastics, and when her family moved to Nebraska and she was the new kid, she started doing backflips across the stage and made the cheerleading squad.

Gayla attended Hollins College, where she received a degree in English. She was proud to have attended a women's college and believed deeply in the power of education to change women's lives. She went on to earn her Master of Social Work from West Virginia University.

Gayla became a mother to Christopher in 1980, and motherhood became her greatest joy. She was extraordinary in her patience. She would sit on the edge of his bed for hours if he needed to talk, never leaving until he was ready. She was fiercely devoted, endlessly encouraging, and always supported his interests even when they made her nervous. She took Christopher and his friends on countless ski trips with only one rule: they had to meet her for lunch and do one run with her afterward. She loved his friends, and she loved being his mom.

In 1988, Gayla married Max Maxfield. They had met two years earlier at the YMCA. Max noticed Gayla’s smile while she checked into the YMCA for her daily swims, an important health ritual for Gayla. Their connection was immediate: on their second date, walking into a movie theater, they both threw an arm in the air and cheered, already giddy with each other. They were married for thirty-seven years. Gayla supported Max through his career in public service, including his terms as State Auditor and Secretary of State. She was a natural at political life and especially loved parades.

Gayla was a dedicated social worker who practiced in mental health, veterans services, medical social work, and family programs. She loved doing group work and had an uncanny ability to cut through to the real issue and discuss what actually mattered. She served as president of the Wyoming chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and on the national NASW board. In 1999, she was recognized as Wyoming's NASW Social Worker of the Year. She also threw herself into volunteer work, including years with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, where she completed three sixty-mile walks and one forty-mile walk for breast cancer research. She trained for months and crossed finish lines with Max cheering “You’re an animal!”

Gayla's dementia journey lasted more than twenty years. At the end of her life, she would still light up around people she loved, even if she could not remember their names or who they were. Her final days were spent surrounded by friends and family, and in her conscious moments around loved ones she often repeated “this is nice” and “I love you.” Max remained devoted throughout, his love and commitment only deepening as caregiving grew more difficult.

Gayla is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Donna Yester, and her cousin Jim Stage. She is survived by her devoted husband of 37 years, Max Maxfield; son Christopher Tyler (Selin); brothers Charlie Yester (Pam) and Martin Yester (Susan); stepchildren Tedd Maxfield (Jill) and Greta Maxfield (Scott); grandchildren Eva Tyler, Niko Tyler, and RJ Schoen; cousins Amy Stage and Sam Stage (Melanie); and dear friend Connie Baker-Wolfe (Gary).

In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial donations to either the Cheyenne Animal Shelter or The Wyoming Hunger Initiative.

Cheyenne Animal Shelter: 800 Southwest Dr. Cheyenne, WY 82007

Wyoming Hunger Initiative: P.O. Box 1006 Cheyenne, WY 82003