Max Campbell

Memorial services with military honors will be conducted for Max Campbell at 11 a.m., January 29, 2011, at Highland Cemetery in Okemah, OK, under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home. Max was a member of Okemah High School’s class of 1951. Max died in Houston, TX, after an extended illness. He was 78 years old. At the time of his death, Max and his wife, Bonnie Simms Campbell, were living in the home of their son, Karl Jayson Campbell, and daughter-in-law, Mary Esparza Campbell, both of whom provided Max with daily care until his death. Max was born in Elk City, OK, on August 2, 1932. His parents, John Momon Campbell and Alma Sartors Campbell, named him Johnny Max. But he was always known by his family and friends as Max. Max was the second of six children, one daughter and five sons. His older sister, Mona Ruth, died as a child leaving Max the oldest of the five surviving boys. He quickly became the role model for his brothers. Three of Max’s brothers – Hoyt, Ralph, and Ronald – preceded him in death. The youngest of the five boys, Jerry Campbell, lives with his wife, Betty, in Fremont, NC. In the early 1940s, John Campbell moved his family to Castle, OK, where Max attended school through grade eight. He transferred to Okemah High School in grade nine. Max was on the main string basketball team during his years at Okemah High. In March, 1951, Max and two of his buddies left high school and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. The Korean War had started the summer before and many of Max’s friends had already left Okemah when the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard was mobilized for service. Max served three years in the Marine Corps rising to the rank of Sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1954. In February 1952, while in the Marine Corps, Max was transferred temporarily to Memphis, TN., where he received specialized training in preparation for overseas duty. While in Memphis, Max and a friend traveled to Minden, LA, on a week-end pass where he met Bonnie Simms. The two were later married. Max and Bonnie had four children, three of whom – Kevin, Amanda, and Denise – preceded Max in death. His youngest child, Karl Jayson is living in Houston. After being discharged from the Marine Corps, Max and Bonnie lived in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina. In North Carolina, Max and three of his brothers were in the construction business. He was living in North Carolina when he first became ill, later moving to Houston to be with his son. In addition to his wife Bonnie, his son, Karl Jayson, and his brother Jerry, Max is survived by four grandchildren: Jayson Max Campbell, Shawn Cato, Chris Cato, and Kelley Byrd, all of Houston. Four nieces and four nephews In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to cancer research at www.cancer.org.

Max Campbell

August 2, 1932 - December 13, 2010