Max KELL

KELL, Max
Retired pastor of El Camino Baptist Church and a 42-year resident of Sacramento, went to be with his Lord July 20, 2011. He was 88 years old. Max entered this world on February 13, 1923 in Lyman, Washington, the oldest of three children born to Maxville and Nancy Kell. He grew up on a farm in that small rural community about 100 miles Northeast of Seattle and graduated from Sedro Wooley High School in 1941. He was a member of the school's 1940 championship football team.



During World War II, Max served as a member of the United States Navy's Armed Guard. He was a gunner on several merchant ships seeing action in the South Pacific. One of those ships was a part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history. He received several citations and medals for his service to our country.

After the war Max returned to Washington and went to work for Skagit Steel and Iron Works and planned to be a machinist. In 1947 he married the love of his life Margaret Eloise Bryson, also from Lyman. Max's work as a machinist was interrupted by a call to the ministry, and he was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1950 by his church in Washington.

Max, Eloise and their oldest son left for North Carolina that same year so Max could go to college. He graduated from Carson Newman College in 1954. While attending college, Max served as pastor of Flag Pond Baptist Church in Flag Pond, Tennessee. In 1954 Max, Eloise and their four boys moved to Berkeley, California so Max could attend Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. While in seminary, Max worked at several jobs including one at a candy factory and another at General Cable.



In 1957 during his last year of seminary, Max was called as pastor of the small congregation at Pine Hill Baptist Church in Eureka, California, over 330 miles away. He graduated from seminary in 1958. A young Billy Graham was the guest speaker at his baccalaureate service. Max was a bi-vocational pastor for the next twelve years, working as a probation officer for Humboldt County while he continued to pastor that growing church. Two more children were born to the family in Eureka during this time.

In 1969 Max was called as pastor of El Camino Baptist Church in Sacramento where he served for 29 years until he retired in 1998 at the age of 75. Under his leadership, El Camino Baptist Church experienced substantial growth and added additional property and buildings, all of which were debt free at the time of his retirement. After his retirement, Max was named Pastor Emeritus by the Church. Max was also active in the larger faith community. He held many offices in local, state and national Southern Baptist agencies and organizations. In addition, he served as the Prayer Chairman for two Sacramento area Billy Graham Crusades and was an active participant in many other ecumenical efforts. At the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky in 2009, Kell was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Max was a member of the board of directors of the Sacramento Law Enforcement Chaplaincy for almost 30 years, and a chaplain himself for many of those years. In 2010, the chaplaincy established the Max Kell Scholarship Fund in his honor. At the time of his death, Max was also serving as the adjunct for the VFW Post 2324 Town and Country.

Of all his accomplishments and awards, Kell was most proud of his family. Kell was preceded in death by his parents, Maxville and Nancy Kell; his son Randy; his son-in-law Mickey Coppage; and a great-grandson, Moses Hance. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eloise Bryson Kell; his brother Lyle Kell and wife Dorothy; his sister Martha Bryson; his daughter Denise Coppage; his sons and their wives, Grant and Gail, Philip and Debbie, Neal and Faith, Lance and Becky, and Todd and Rachel; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren; as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was fond of saying that he wasn't interested in collecting anything but friends. Max will be remembered as a mightly man of prayer.

Visitation for Mr. Kell will be on Monday, 4 to 8pm, at East Lawn Mortuary, 5757 Greenback Lane, Sac., CA. Funeral Services Tuesday, 10am at El Camino Baptist Church, 2805 El Camino Ave, Sacramento. Interment to follow at East Lawn Sierra Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Sacramento or El Camino Baptist Church Building Fund.