Max L Wilson-Life Sketch Part 5

Max L Wilson

Life Sketch

Given by President Myron Hancock
15 October 1997

Before becoming the principal at Fort Hall Elementary, he served as vice principal at Mountain View Middle School in Blackfoot and then went on to be the principal at Fort Hall.  Max loved working with youth and he enjoyed his years teaching very much.  He grew to love the people here in Blackfoot and Fort Hall. 

     He was serving as a counselor in the ward bishopric at the time of his death. 

     Joyce was the love of his life; his sweetheart for all times.  He had an unspeakable love for children.  He had a great love for his brother Danny.  He and Danny spent a lot of great time together.  Lynette always had a special spot in his heart and he was so proud of his boys and of Pam and Nicole.  He was a great grandfather.  One time he borrowed the neighbor’s golf cart so he could take Quentin and the grandchildren on a ride in the area to see the ducks and the geese.  He loved his family dearly.  They had family golf tournaments.  Greg and Mike would come up from Utah and Ryan and Max and Josh would be the Idaho team.  As I understand it, the Idaho team always won.  They enjoyed life together and had a great deal of fun.  Hunting season was a great time in Max and his family’s lives. 

     Max used to come and help me dig potatoes in the fall.  He would come and work for me and bring some of his boys.  As soon as we got done digging those spuds, we would park the spud truck and the combine.  We would load up the pickup and the horses and we would head for the hills to go either deer or elk hunting.  This was a great time for Max and me.  I’ve got four sons and he’s got four sons.  We didn’t always have them all there together because some of them were serving missions or different things.  Max and I would watch these kids take off and go up the hills and we would comment to each other about how proud we were of our boys.  I know Max was especially proud to have four sons who held the priesthood worthily and who served missions.  Those who are married have made great choices in their lives for companions.  This meant more to him than any trophy bull or the biggest buck. 

     Max became a master teacher not just in the classroom but in life.  Through his life he lived and faced many challenges, but through them he learned patience and love and compassion.  Much as a carpenter would look at a pile of wood and nails and envision a glorious house, Max had the ability to look upon a person and see within him the potential that he might have as a man.  Max was a builder not like a carpenter but he was a builder much like our Savior.  I have had the opportunity over my years to speak in over 40 different funerals and I have never seen a funeral with such a large out pouring as this one here.  Max has always been a brother and a best friend to me. 

                                              There is a destiny that makes us brothers

                                              None goes his way alone

                                             All that we put into the lives of others,

                                             Comes back into our own.

     I would like at this time to bear you my witness that I know that God lives.  We aren’t gathered here today to pay a final tribute to Brother Max Wilson.  The things that he has taught us in our lives will be a tribute to him as we live them and share them with others.  

Christmas tree at the Festival of Trees dedicated to Max