Max LaMar Jones passed away peacefully March 28, 2008 at the age of 91.
He was born to Dan and Mary Jane Jones in Malad City, Idaho May 13, 1916. He was one of sixteen brothers and sisters. He attended grade school and high school in Malad and Weber College at Ogden, Utah. While attending Weber, Max met and married Lura Miller. Max worked in various gold mines and Max and Lura made their first home in the gold mining town of Jarbidge. After a brief time there, Max and Lura along with son, Max Jr., moved to Fallon, where Max worked at a Dairy Farm milking cows and then to work for Safeway Stores in Reno. In 1939 Max was sent to Gardnerville to manage the Safeway Store. After two years Safeway closed and Max took over the lease and opened the Gardnerville Food Store and operated the store until 1963 when he sold the store to Luke Neddenriep and went into the insurance business for Farmer's Insurance.
Max was deeply involved in the community. He served as East Fork Township Justice of the Peace for 10 years, member and president of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, director of Douglas County Civil Defense, scout master of Boy Scouts of America troop 140 for 10 years receiving the Silver Beaver and On My Honor Awards and served on the scouts' board of review for 20 years. Max served on the Douglas County School Board for two terms, member and president of the Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club and a charter member of the Carson Valley Lions Club. From 1941 through 1945 he served his country in the Merchant Marines. He was a volunteer fireman for 32 years. Max was the founding member of the Douglas County Sheriff's Posse, which he served for 10 years and enjoyed participating in the Pony Express Re-ride each year with his friends and grandsons.
Max could often be found riding his favorite horse, Casey, and helping ranchers with their cattle and working his own small herd. He loved cutting wood, flying his single engine Stinson airplane and chasing wild mustangs in the Pine Nut Mountains. He enjoyed hunting with family and friends and looked forward each year to deer and elk hunting season.
His work with the church was high up on his list of accomplishments. He was the first presiding elder for the Carson Valley Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was the driving force behind the fundraising for the new church in Gardnerville. In 1979 Max and his wife Lura served an 18 month mission for the church in North Carolina. In 1981 Max was called to work in the Oakland, Calif. Temple and currently serving at the Reno, Nevada Temple and has served the Carson City Stake as Patriarch for approximately 20 years.
Max is preceded in death by his parents; 15 brothers and sisters, son-in-law Dr. James W. Decker; and his wife and love of his life of 59 years, Lura. He is survived by his four children, Max LaMar Jr. (Honor Settelmeyer) of Reno, Lura Lee of Belmont, Calif., Eileen Decker of Minden, Mary Jane (Kirk) Robinson of Gardnerville, eight grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
A viewing will be held 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at the Walton's Chapel of the Valley Funeral Home in Carson City. The funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel on Spruce and Deseret in Minden, with a viewing 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the funeral. Burial to follow at Garden Cemetery in Gardnerville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carson Valley Museum, 1477 Hwy 395 N, Gardnerville, 89410 or to Boy Scouts of America, 1745 S Wells Avenue, Reno, 89502. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Walton's Chapel of the Valley Funeral Home. The family would like to thank the community, many friends and family for their love, prayers, thoughts, support and stories. It has helped us through this special time.