Obit of Fowler, Donald Max - Cimarron County, Oklahoma Thanks to http://www.amarillo.com/ for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright, http://www.amarillo.com/ 14 Dec 2008 Return to Cimarron County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cimarron/cimarron.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Boise City Cemetery--Boise City OK Donald Max Fowler BOISE CITY, Okla. - Donald Max Fowler, 75, died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003. A private memorial service will be Saturday in Boise City. Burial will be at a later date in Boise City Cemetery by Cimarron Mortuary. Mr. Fowler, the fifth child of Don and Lily (Gore) Fowler, was born on Aug. 7, 1928, in Elkhart, Kan. On hand to welcome him were brothers Millard and Dale and sister, Dorothy. Another sister, Ruth, had died after contracting measles at the age of 6, three years before Max was born. In 1933, the family moved to Boise City, where they farmed and later established a Pontiac dealership and shop called Fowler Motor Co. Max grew up amid the hustle and bustle of life on Main Street and was known by many folks around town as a sweet and shy little boy. As a youth, Max enjoyed the hobby of building airplane models. In 1942, at the age of 14, he received a citation from the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics making him a commander aircraftsman for his scale model aircraft. By the age of 16 airplanes gave way to cars, and Max found joy and freedom behind the wheel and under the hood of automobiles, be it a Model A, his dad's Pontiac or a Bantum. Max graduated from Boise City High School in 1946. After a few semesters of college at Panhandle A&M College (OPSU) and Oklahoma State University, he returned to Boise City and went into business with his brother, Dale, opening a body shop. Later he would work for the Chevrolet and Ford garages, farm for his father-in-law, R.J. French, and work for his brother, Millard, at F&G Construction. Ultimately he owned his own business, Northside Mobil, which included a bulk fuel and fertilizer plant; Cukie and the children worked at his side to make it a successful business. Max married Mary Ione "Cukie" French in 1949. They brought into the world five children, Nancy Lark, Robbie Don, Heather Ann, and Shelley Beth. Lance Munson was stillborn and became the family's angel. Max and his family enjoyed the small pleasures of life. There were camping trips to Cimarron Canyon and lots of wiener roasts. Many years the family participated in the Easter Pageant and attended St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Sunday School as a family. Max was active in the Masonic Order and attained the rank of 32nd Degree Mason. He took the honor and responsibility of being a Mason very seriously and recently received his 50-year Award for his membership. He was a vital member of his church, teaching Sunday School, serving as a lay minister and singing in the choir. With Cukie, he served as sponsor for the youth of the MYF group for many years. Max had a great love for God and was a witness as he went about his life in the community. On Aug. 21, 1969, Max was in a pickup wreck that left him immobilized and with brain trauma. It was a dark time for him and his family as he endured surgeries and slowly emerged from a coma, forever changed, but still Max. During the next 33 years Max became a touchstone for his family. Wherever they went, the life they each lived was shared with him. His father and his brother Dale died during those years. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born; the world kept spinning even as he lay immobile in bed. The miracle of it all was that Max remained open to love and was able to talk and listen, remembering family, old friends and events. He knew he was still God's child. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dale; a sister, Ruth; a son, Lance; his stepmother, Eva; and his special friend and cousin, Kenneth Fowler. Survivors include his wife; his children, Nancy Roberts, Heather Ritchie and husband, Rob, of Vici, Okla., Robbie and Shelley; a brother, Millard Fowler and wife, Esther; a sister, Dorothy Sechler; his stepmother, Bertha Fowler of Indianapolis; his grandchildren, Amy Roberts, Heath Ritchie, Lori and Richard Dyer and Ryan Roberts; his great-grandchildren, Ariana Roberts, Kaytlyn and Tambre Dyer; his many cousins, nephews and nieces, who loved their "Uncle Max"; and all of those lives he touched along the way. The family suggests memorials be to Cimarron Memorial Hospital for hospital equipment and may be sent to the funeral home. Amarillo Globe-News, Aug. 14, 2003 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Cimarron County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/cimarron/cimarron.htm