Max Lee Stabel

Max Lee Stabel, age 78, of Menard, Texas, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Friday February 20th in Menard. Max was survivor from birth. He was born April 4, 1947 in Higgins, Texas, during a massive tornado. He encountered other such storms throughout his life - Max was in the Lubbock tornado in 1970 and again 3 years ago, he narrowly escaped a Tornado in Perryton while driving to Booker, TX. He also walked away from a plane crash and later fought through multiple strokes, working and never giving up until the end.

In childhood, the Stabel family worked together as a well-oiled unit to raise excellent wheat in the Texas panhandle. Max and Carol learned a strong work ethic from a young age from their parents Art and Ruth. This also resulted in Max's lifelong love of farming.

Max came from a long-time Lutheran family. Both sides of his family were of German descent and moved to Russia before immigrating to the United States. This set the foundation for Max's life as a strong Christian man, he would be a leader at many area congregations and could be found singing a beautiful gospel most Sundays.

Max attended all twelve grades of school in Booker, Texas. He was active in Future Farmers, Future Teachers, and 4-H. He showed steers and completed commercial steer projects. His senior year, Max was awarded the coveted Lone Star Farmer Degree.

A gifted teacher, Max chose to study Agricultural Education at Texas Tech and became manager of the meat lab. He was drafted into the army where he served his tenure inspecting meat at processing plants in the Dallas Ft. Worth area.

Max married Marsha Mills, his wife of 53 years on March 25, 1972.

Max returned to Texas Tech and completed his master's degree in meat science. His thesis on the growth, fattening and developmental patterns of Hereford bulls, steers, and heifers was one of the largest completed at Texas Tech. After finishing his master's degree, Max went on to teach at Tarleton State University where he started the meat science program. He coached the meat judging teams and hosted workshops with Texas Agricultural Meat Science Specialist. At Tarleton Max was selected President of the Faculty Senate. In the community he was President of the Kowana's Club and Chairman of the Board of The First Christian Church.

In 1978, Max left academia to start his own business with his wife, a meat processing plant in Menard, TX. The Stabels' operated Ranch House Meat Company in Menard for 48 years. They developed a full line of cured and smoked meat items that were sold nationwide via mail-order and wholesale. One of the key components of Ranch House Meat Company was the concessions operation. Ranch House Meats has operated one of the most popular booths at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for 46 years.

In the 1990s, a group of local axis deer raisers asked Max to develop a line of exotic meat products for the Venison World Brand, which he eventually acquired. The Venison World retail shop in Eden, TX is a recognized stop for travelers from Canada and Mexico.

Max was always looking for new business ventures. After making a connection with similar culinary traditions and cultures in Europe, in 2019 he was invited to sell Emerson Technik Smokehouses in the United States. Max enjoyed helping fellow processors select, purchase, and install the excellent Romanian manufactured smokehouses. If all of this was not enough, Max also enjoyed his favorite past time farming for the last 20 yrs. He'd often fly to the family farm to help his dad harvest, before starting to raise his own crops at a farm outside of Doole, TX.

Max loved to fly and earned his pilot license while he was in college. When he moved to Menard, he recruited like-minded individuals to take flying lessons. Max was also active in many other associations and community affairs. He was one of the original founders of the Texas Association of Meat Processors.

Max served on the Menard City Council for 12 years and the Menard Industrial Development Board. He was also Chairman of the Board of the Methodist Church in Menard. Max loved the welcoming community and people of Menard as well as his many employees and business associates who were supportive during his long career.

Max was stronger than the storms he weathered, and like a tornado plowed the path that was his life. When he decided to get something done, he'd accomplish it and enjoyed a long life of achievement and adventure.

Max was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, Art and Ruth Stabel Sell and niece Amber Dawn Parr. He is survived by his wife Marsha, sister Carol Stabel from Corpus Christi, nephew Kenneth Mills, Great nephew Brandon Parr and many beloved cousins and friends.

Funeral services for Max Lee Stabel will be Monday, March 2, 2026, at 2:00pm at First Baptist Church in Menard, with Reverend Grady Arnold officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00pm to 2:00pm, prior to services. Interment will be in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Menard. Friends may view and/or sign Max's online memorial guest book at www.leatherwoodmemorialchapels.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in memory of Max Lee Stabel to the Menard Businessmen's Association Scholarship Fund (c/o First State Bank 101 W San Saba Ave Menard, TX 76859), Menard County 4-H or a beloved charity of your choosing.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Max Lee Stabel, please click here to visit our sympathy store.