Max Kidd Proctor

Max Kidd Proctor

Talk given at funeral 17 February 1976

by Holger BC Tychsen

1912-1976

     The Latter-day saints understanding of  eternal marriage is one of the most important sources of comfort for one who has lost a companion and who feels worthy of having the marriage continue for eternity.  Then death is looked upon as a temporary separation, and one can look forward to being united with his loved ones.  While death is almost always an unwelcomed event, it is much more tolerable when one has the assurance of being reunited with his loved ones.

     We, no doubt, knew before we were born that we were coming into a world that would include joys and sorrows and comfort and pain, peace and hardship, health and sickness, success and disappointments.  We knew also some day we would die.  If we accepted the privilege of coming to this world with these risks involved, it is our duty now to accept with faith consequences that are beyond our control and take hope in the reunion that will surely come.

     In Alma 34:32 we read:  "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."

     In the life of Brother and Sister Proctor, perhaps 18 January 1973, was the greatest day of their lives.  They were married for time and eternity in the House of the Lord. I have known Brother Proctor during these last important years of his life.  He and his wife and companion have set an example for their children to love the Gospel and keep all of the Lord's commandments. 

Max and Dorothy at the Temple 18 Jan. 1973

Patrica Hawkins, Dorthy and Max, Shirley Fay Brough, Ethel Proctor Formo

     To Brother Proctor, his home and his family was his life.  A friend of ours has often commented to us of how special the Proctor home is.  When she was growing up, she lived in the same neighborhood.  It was to the Proctor home that that kids always went because it was so much fun and there was always things going on there.  Sometimes it was wall-to-wall kids but it was where they loved to be.  Dorothy and Max have shown that where there is heart room, there is house room.

     Our own children loved Max a great deal for the kindness that he always showed them.  He and Dorothy took them horseback riding and always had the time and took the effort to talk to them and show them that they really enjoyed their company.

     Max's home was always open to others and when I went to talk to him about temple work, he was always excited about the progress that was being made by the Elders and their wives.  He had been called to be over organizing and checking on the temple work done by the Elders in our ward.  Through his diligence and effort we went from very few endowments to our high of 53 in the month of January.  He was overjoyed with the success of this work.  He had a strong testimony of the Gospel and especially temple work.  I have been with Max in the temple when it hurt him to walk, when he wasn't able to wear his regular shoe, but he ever complained, but would smile and say he was fine.  He was where he wanted to be.  We enjoyed so much our many  temple excursions as a group not only because of the work that we were doing., but also because of the social ability of our brothers and sisters.  Age was never a barrier in the good times we have had together.

Max and his dog, Tippy

     Brother Proctor filled other church assignments with equal enthusiasm.  We often had to go as a quorum out to the welfare farm on various occasions.  At one time we had to pour some cement steps and he put in about 50 man hours on this job.  It was a great experience working along with him.  Everyone in our ward loved Brother Proctor, especially the Elders that he helped so much.

     As an example of how we could always count on Max to do everything he was called to do, he and his home teaching companion, Brother Glenn Pierce, visited their families every month without fail and always had their oral evaluations with me.  They were truly concerned about those people they were responsible for. Any time we needed a volunteer for collecting money for welfare banquets, Brother Proctor was always one of the first with his hand up.

     Brother and Sister Proctor were the perfect married couple.  They were always together and unified in the things they did.  They fit into any gathering and were always happy and fun to be with.  To them the Church and family came first.  It was wonderful to see the love and devotion, the kindness and tenderness that they had for one another.  Sister Proctor has often told us of the many ways that Max helped her on Relief Society Day with the projects that she was involved in.

     Brother Proctor was the father of seven children, one of whom passed away.  He was so proud of them and of the many accomplishments that they had.  You could feel the love that he had for them as he talked of their successes and experiences.  He would often speak of his joy in being a grandfather and we could feel of his young spirit as he talked of the good times he had when he visited his grandchildren.  his family are fine, upstanding citizens and they know of the good example their father has set for them to follow.  He has left an honorable name for his children, especially his sons to live up to.

     Max was generous with everything he had and especially with his time as his children and Dorothy know.  He was a hard worker and a good provider for his family.  Dorothy and Max were married during the depression years which were such dark and relentless years.  One story that we enjoyed hearing was how they rationed out sugar to the family during the War.  Each child had his cup of sugar which was to last during the week.  When it was gone, they were out of luck unless they could bargain with a brother or sister for some of theirs.  And there was some pretty good deals made for a little bit of sugar, especially by some that had a sweet tooth.

     Max and Dorothy have always had a garden which they enjoyed so much.  No one could grow things like they could.  They loved the hard work that went into the planting, weeding and harvesting.  He would always say to me, "How's your garden?" and thanks to the many suggestions he gave us we had a few successes.  They were always willing to share with us too, and we appreciated it so much.

     Max and Dorothy enjoyed the out-of-doors so much.  They go so much joy from riding their horses in the canyons with each other and with their family.  Their fishing trips and other outings brought much contentment into their lives.

Max  All-State Center 1930 

Chinook, Montana

     Brother Proctor loved sports, especially basketball.  He had the reputation of being a clean player.  He very seldom fouled.  He played in high school under Coach Sterling Harris.  In one game he held an all-stater from Jordan to no points.  He also played with the Tooele Merchants with such men as Burdette Bevan, Pug Warner, Sherman Lee, Max Anderson, Ray Howell and Ray Hill.  In 1956-57 he was coach of the First Ward M-Men team.  Richard Palmer, Don Proctor, Keith Obrone, Bob Colledge, Marte Christensen, and Bill Patton were his boys and they took seventh in the all-church tournament.  He also worked with Steve Hawkins, Gary Evans, David Stevens and others.  These boys admired and loved Max and they all played so well together.  Max and Dorothy went to all the games, sometimes into Salt Lake in the worst of snow storms.  I'm sure his boys can all recall many wonderful experiences as they think of these years that their dad worked so closely with them.

Montana State Champions 1930 Chinook, Montana

Max is 3 from left seated on bench

10th Grade Basketball team Malta, Montana

Max 4th from left, Walt Formo 5th from left

     Brother Max Proctor was a humble man; he never boasted.  He was companionable and cheerful with a refined sense of humor.  He loved a good story and could tell one.  I have never heard anything lewd come from his lips and I have never heard him say anything bad about anyone or run them down in anyway.  It was hard to be anything but happy around Brother Proctor and that is a choice characteristic to be able to make people around you happy to be there.

     Brother Max Proctor lived joyfully, abundantly, efficiently, but his life was not all on the surface.  There was a deep, strong currant running down through his very center which was dedicated to great and sober task of living a good life in the short time allotted him in this life.  He was and is a child of God.  He lived up to the great possibilities given him in this life and he is now able to progress even farther.  And he is making a place for you, Dorothy and for your family.  He left no great estate of wealth and fortune but he left a good name, his testimony of the Lord, Jesus Christ, his love of the Church and his example of faithfulness in keeping the Lord's commandments, his wonderful family, and his love of his country.  So the greatest tribute we can pay at this time to Brother Max Proctor is that he was a good man and the Lord loved him as we do.

     Now you, as his children, have a duty to put you homes in order as Max did on 18 January 1973.  He set the example for all of us to follow, to love the Lord and try to keep his commandments.  If you have any doubt as to the truthfulness of the Gospel, my advice is to search the scriptures and get on your knees in prayer.  May we all do this.