DIGHTON — Max Moomaw, 87, died on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 at Western Plains Medical Complex in Dodge City. He was born on Jan. 2, 1933 in Lane County the son of John Walter and Kathryn Hazel (Murphy) Moomaw. He married Beverly Ann Cordes on June 7, 1958 at Meade. She died on Sept. 16, 2011.
Max graduated from Dighton High School in 1950 and enlisted in the United States Navy, serving until 1956. After his discharge he attended Kansas State University before transferring to Fort Hays State University and received his Bachelor’s in Mathematics. He returned to the family farm and was a lifelong farmer-stockman.
Max was very active in his community. He served as the State Representative for the 117th District from 1981 to 1990 where he was the House Assistant Majority Leader and was proud of his work on the Migrant Workers Education Coalition. In Dighton he was a member of the United Methodist Church where he was a lay speaker and served on many committees. He was a founding organizer of the Lane County Blue Grass Festival. He was a board member of the First National Bank of Dighton, Camp Lakeside in Scott County, J.O.Y. Center, Lane County Library and Lane County Farm Bureau. He was a past 4-H Leader, baseball and softball coach, served many years on the American Legion Post #190 Honor Guard for funerals and served as toastmaster and entertainment for various meetings and events. Max enjoyed golfing, playing poker, pool, cribbage, camping and dancing. He wrote songs and was well known for entertaining at nursing homes and senior centers. He recently had a routine of visiting the residents of Lane County Long Term Care on a regular basis.
He is survived by his daughter, Celia and Jim Wells of Great Bend; sons, Dan and Lisa Moomaw and Mitch and Terry Moomaw both of Dighton; sister, Ruth Evans of Lyons; longtime companion, Jo Fouse of Garden City; seven grandchildren, Derek Moomaw, Mike and Susanne Wells, Brent Moomaw, Lacy Wells, Corey Moomaw, Sam Moomaw and Zeke Moomaw; and great-grandson, Dalton Peters. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; Ssster, Marilyn Bennett; and granddaughter, Mandy Bennett.
Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at United Methodist Church in Dighton with Rev Berniece Ludlum officiating. Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy Honor Guard. The service will be facebook live on the Garnand Funeral Home facebook page. Memorials are suggested to United Methodist Church or J.O.Y. Center in care of Boomhower Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Boomhower Funeral Home
Box 891
Dighton, KS 67839
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 6, 2020
