Max O. Brown, 81, was born July 17, 1921 and passed away May 6, 2003.
Max spent most of his life in south central Missouri, except for a few years aboard ship in WWII. As each of us hopefully does, Max left a path of achievement in his wake.
From his first wife, Jo Agnes, to whom he was totally devoted throughout his life, to his two daughters, Jo Ann and Mary Susan, who filled his life with love and a sense of accomplishment, Max maintained unwavering moral values and set difficult bench marks as a superior example for his family.
Max was always amazed at his family and the prosperity that was generated. He often hinted that he believed himself to be a very prosperous, poor man, finding the thought of lo¬cating a camel that could pass through the eye of a needle to be an impossible task yet seeing the undeniable benefits of living a life of service to God.
Max was embarrassed all his life for having dropped out of school during the Depression in order to take care of his family's needs. He did not understand the sacrifice he made was an indication of his personal tenacity rather than an indication of personal failure. He finally understood the value of that test was the indication that he would make the necessary sacrifice for the welfare of his family.
It was a wonderful day when in 1999, the United States Government awarded all the men and women of WWII an honorary High School Diploma. That was one of his finest days. He felt he had finally achieved an unachievable task and now he was an educated man.
Max had a much focused life. He was not one to shirk responsibility nor was he indecisive in any way, especially about his faith. When it came time to say good-bye to this world, his dignity and self respect, his moral integrity, honesty, love of helping his fellow man and humor are examples his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have recognized and valued as the bar for the principles of living. His example of graciously placing his wife continuously on a pedestal will live on in their lives and will remain uncompromised.
Max passed all of life's tests with top marks. He was fearless about death graciously accepting his eternal healing and looked forward to hugging the family members who have waited patiently to welcome him home after his earthly tasks were finished.
We take heart knowing that Max will be waiting to wel¬come us another day. We believe he is now relaxing with his old friends from Pearl Harbor and the South Pacific while being humbled at meeting his long ago ancestors who are residing in Heaven.
Max has found another theater of operation. He, once again, has the health, wisdom and the knowledge to "stay the course."
Max O. Brown should know he left a hole in all our hearts when he entered Heaven and will be missed but never forgotten by his wife; daughters; sons-in-law, Ed Wade and Larry Moldenhauer; grandchildren and their spouses - Stephen and Beth (Moldenhauer) Anderson, Craig and Jennifer (Wade) Gundy, Curtis Moldenhauer, Jeff and Amy (Wade) Tiede and Lora Wade; his great-grandchildren - Taylor and Samantha Gundy, Elayna Anderson, Elizabeth Tiede and Hunter Molden¬hauer; his siblings, Adda Emery and Bill Brown; many nieces and nephews; and a host of loyal friends.
Max would probably have been embarrassed by all the nice words, thinking, "why all the commotion?" He would be whispering to "Joie," "when will this thing be over so I can go home?"
Max, you are forever, deeply loved.
Masonic services were held Friday, May 9, at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, Nevada. Funeral services were private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missouri Baptist Children's Home Birthday Fund in care of Evergreen Memorial Chapel, Nevada.
