Max LaVar Ingalls

Max LaVar Ingalls passed away peacefully on February 25, 2025, at the age of 93 in American Fork, Utah.
Max was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on January 26, 1932, to Maxwell LeRoy Ingalls and Virginia Elizabeth Edginton. Max, "Buddy" was welcomed by his sister, Virginia, "Boots," when she was just a year old.
His early years were spent in the Yalecrest area of Salt Lake. The family spent time in Morgan, Utah, where they owned and operated the Vallis Theater. Max and his sister enjoyed helping pick up the new film reels on their way into town. This is where his lifelong love of movies and popcorn began.
Max met many lifelong friends in the Yalecrest Ward and at Uintah Grade School. These special friends became known as the "Big Six," the "Great Eight," and the "Super 16." This same group met monthly for more than 80 years, and some still meet today.
Max graduated from East High in 1949, where he loved singing in the A Cappella choir. He earned athletic letters for playing on the golf team and as a member of the ski team.
After high school, he attended the University of Utah before transferring to Brigham Young University. He received a mission call to the Eastern States Mission, but limitations on the number of missionaries allowed to serve from each ward during the Korean War prevented him from going. He was deeply disappointed not to be able to serve.
In 1953, Max joined the United States Army and eventually became a Sargent First Class. He was always grateful that his typing skills kept him in the office and off the front lines of the Korean War. He remained in the active reserves until 1961. His earlier disappointment was replaced with pride in serving his country.
Max loved to dance! It was after a dance during his first week at BYU that he met Gaylia Fae Boyack, his high school friend's roommate. They both attended BYU, where Max studied accounting.
Max and Gayle were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 25, 1954, and were married for 58 years. They first lived in Detroit, where he was stationed for a year, before returning to Provo so Max could complete his degree in Accounting at BYU in 1956. Max always loved the fact that he and his sweetheart graduated on the same day.
Max and Gayle moved to Holladay, where they welcomed four children: Debra Lynn, Mark LaVar, Marci Ann, and David Boyack. Max was a supportive husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He loved coaching his sons' baseball teams and, together with Gayle, attended and supported every event possible for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
During his career as a business systems analyst, he worked for Sperry Utah, Motorola in Scottsdale, Envirotech, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in SLC, where he was instrumental in creating the temple recommend recording system.
Max enjoyed a lifetime of skiing, golfing (even hitting a hole-in-one), table tennis (winning the 1949 State Junior Table Tennis Championship), bridge, bicycling, hiking, trips to Hawaii, watching BYU sports, and attending every significant life event of his loved ones as possible.
Max loved the gospel and maintained a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. He served in many callings, including Sunday School President. An especially meaningful calling for Max and Gayle was serving in the Branch Presidency of a retirement community in Orem. Max also loved singing in church choirs and remained a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life.
In March 2017 Max married Jenny Kershaw. They lived in Eagle Mountain, Utah.
Max is preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Gaylia Fae Boyack, his parents, great-grandson Luke Petersen, daughter-in-law Terri Wolfe Ingalls, and his sister, Boots.
Max is survived by his wife, Jennifer Kershaw, and his children: Debbie (Gary) Sabin, Mark Ingalls, Marci (Tom) Lindgren, and David (Andra) Ingalls; 19 grandchildren; and 26.5 great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held from 9:00 am - 10:30 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am on Thursday March 6, 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Cedar Hills Stake Center, 3950 West Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah 84062. Interment to follow at the Spanish Fork Utah Cemetery.
Guests are invited to wear blue and white in honor of Max's love of BYU sports.
Flower Delivery Notice:
To ensure proper delivery, please send all floral arrangements directly to the location of the service one hour prior to its scheduled start time. Thank you.