Max Kieth Durham died on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, after 74 years of being a husband, father, brother, son and friend to nearly everyone he met.
He was preceded in death by vast swaths of game animals including deer, squirrels, fish, turkey and even frogs. Much to the relief of Missouri wildlife in his later years he took to simply admiring them as they wandered through his back yard, in complete safety and with the certainty that they were not about to be eaten.
Max was married to Gloria for 53 years and was the father of Devin and Jason, a brother to Kathy and the son of Gilford and Gladys. All of them were constantly amazed by his ability to accurately diagnose car problems at a distance. This skill was only eclipsed by his talent for never throwing anything away regardless of how worthless it appeared to be, under the assumption that things like broken toothpicks and screwdrivers with the handles smashed off would someday be a valuable commodity.
Max had a never-ending love of giant high definition television sets on which he would watch low definition broadcast TV shows from the 50s and 60s. Watching the Super Bowl was a cherished Durham family tradition and throughout the year we would root for the Dallas Cowboys to make it to the big game so that we could all watch them lose.
Max had many close friends who will certainly miss his smile and quick wit, as well as his supernatural ability to spot small animals moving at extreme distances. This coupled with an encyclopedic knowledge of the patterns and habits of Missouri wildlife, firearms and an apparent immunity to discomforting weather while hunting provided many of them with an excuse to get up at 5 a.m. in the rain and sit in the woods. He will be missed.
Services were 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Henderson Baptist Church, Rogersville Mo., followed by the burial and visitation. As a memorial tribute, family and friends are invited to stomp any brown recluse spiders they see into dust since that is all the little bastards deserve. Arrangements were entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services, Springfield.
PAID