Max Brown

Max Brown obituary, Derby, KS

Max Brown

Max Brown Obituary

Visit the Smith Mortuary - Derby Chapel website to view the full obituary.

Max Brown, 89, Douglass, Kansas, passed away on January 15, 2026. He was born on August 5, 1936 in Vidette, Arkansas to Ted Brown and Hester (Shrable) Brown.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris F. Brown; parents, Ted Brown and Hester Shrable-Brown (Vidette, AR); two sisters, Chloe McCandlis (Snohomish, WA) and Elsie Pyeatt (Mountain Home, AR); stepdaughter, Karen Burris (Las Vegas, NV).

Max is survived by his stepson, Marvin Russell; nephew, Richard Pyeatt (Marianne); nieces, Rhonda Pyeatt (Jim Douglas), Brenda Metcalf, Tammie Condery (Jeff); sisters-in-law, Mary Anne Braungardt, Ruth (Carl) Dennett, Margaret Williard.

Max was raised in rural Arkansas where he developed a lifelong love for hunting and fishing and where he graduated from Viola High School.

He moved to Kansas a few years after graduation to work for Cessna where he worked for 40 plus years before his retirement.

Max met the love of his life, Doris, in Douglass where he decided to marry her after tasting her wonderful cooking. Max then had a fresh pie on the stove everyday as long as he had Doris. Together they built a home, a cattle ranch and a beautiful life for the next 42 years. At Doris' death in 2022 Max lost his compass and his joy.

Max served in the US Army and took his physical fitness seriously. He did 100 pushups, 100 situps and ran 3 miles every single day until he was in his 70s. He was in perfect health and took no prescriptions until the past year. He only went to the doctor when he was injured on the farm.

In his later years Max took great joy in raising some of the finest Black Angus cattle and his bulls were highly sought after.

Max and Doris attended the Douglass Church of Christ and valued the many friends that they made there.

Public viewing will be held on Monday, January 19th from 5:00-7:00 at Smith Family Mortuary 1415 N. Rock Rd. Derby, KS 67037. Funeral Service on Tuesday January 20th at 1:00 at Douglass Church of Christ 201 W 1st St. Douglass, KS 67039.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Smith Mortuary - Derby Chapel

1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby, KS 67037

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