Name: Visitation for Max Milburn Matthews
Start: 2023-09-01T17:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-09-01T19:00:00.000Z
Location: Kreidler Funeral Home, Inc.

McAllen - Max Milburn Matthews, son of George Veltha Matthews and Faye Alice Wilkey was born in Mount Vernon, Illinois on July 28, 1928. Max died at home, surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

Max grew up in Mount Vernon, graduated from Mt. Vernon High School. During the summers, Max would attend Bruch Creek, a Community of Christ family campground in Xenia, Illinois. This is where he met and began dating Daisy Loretta Surridge of Taylorville, Illinois. After graduating high school, Max attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, playing basketball and dating, amongst others, Marilyn Russell of Maine. Marilyn two timed him; that ended that relationship.

Graduating with an associate degree in business administration from Graceland, Max transferred to the University of Kansas to begin working on his Bachelor of Science in Business Admin. A year or so later, Daisy came back to his life. They got married and moved to Champaign, Illinois where Max finished his bachelor's degree and subsequently began working at the University of Illinois as a Purchasing Agent. During this time, Max and Daisy gave birth to Lynn and Scott. Max was a devoted family man, helping with both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

In 1975, he and Daisy moved to McAllen, Texas to become inn keepers, having purchased Windsor Motel from his parents who had owned it since 1948. Max and Daisy had a wonderful life together, traveling around Mexico and visiting their children. Daisy died of Lymphoma in 1984. Shortly after her death, Max auctioned off Windsor Motel and developed Windsor Auto Plaza, which still stands on Business 83 and Ash. In 1985, Max rekindled his relationship with Marilyn and subsequently they married, sharing travels and visits to both their children. Until she passed of cancer in 2017.

Throughout his life, Max was very dedicated to the Community of Christ Church, serving in various leadership positions, including Presiding Elder, District President, and Evangelist.

Max was preceded in death by both his parents; his first wife, Daisy Matthews and 2nd wife, Marilyn Matthews. He is survived by his third wife, Kathy Ellithorpe Matthews; his daughter Lynn of Kansas City, MO, his son Scott (Joanna) of Mission, TX, Joanna's daughter, Ashley Wren (Chris) of Westminster, Colorado. Grandsons, Aaron Matthews of McAllen, TX, Austin Matthews (Sarah), great grandson, Aidon of Tomball, TX, and Dylan Matthews (Laura), great granddaughter, Claire of Round Rock, TX. Stepson, Russell (Sharon) Houston, TX; Stepdaughter Kris Ann (Terry) Lancaster, WI; Stepson, Scott (Sheila) Ft. Worth, TX; Stepson, Greg (Trish) Tatum, TX. And stepdaughter, Ann Basta of Lakeville, MN, Marie Ellithorpe of Missouri Valley, IA, Charlie Ellithorpe of Denver, IA. Max has numerous other step grandchildren and great step grandchildren. Max is also survived by a cousin, Dora Ann Stuck of Oakridge, TX. In addition, Max is survived by many additional family members and friends.

A memorial service will be held at Kreidler's Funeral Home on Friday, September 1st from 5 to 7 pm. The Graveside Service will be held at Roselawn Cemetery on Saturday morning at 10 am. Max's wishes were that in lieu of flowers, any memorials be given to the Alzheimer's Research Association: BrightFocus.org/" target="_new" rel="nofollow">https://donate.BrightFocus.org/.

Max's family would like to thank: Amedisys Hospice for their excellent care and all the caregivers who participated in making Max's last years of life comfortable.

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

Published by The Monitor on Aug. 30, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Max Matthews

4 Entries

Connie Flores

March 4, 2024

You were always full of life, surrounded by great memories lots of love, for the person you were, RIP

Dori Contreras

August 30, 2023

Max and Marilyn were my WaterWalk neighbors until I moved from there in early 2017. I didn't realize Marilyn had passed later that year. Both were lovely people with him I enjoyed a cordial relationship. I would see them often when I'd pick up my mail and visited them in their home several times. Heartfelt condolence are extended to all of Max's family and friends.

Steven F Morgan

August 28, 2023

Kathy, Scott and Joanna, Lynn, Aaron, Austin, and Dylan.
I find it difficult to find the words to explain to you what Maxamillion's friendship has meant to me over the last 30+ years. So many daily topics of discussion that we would mull over. The only one that we could never come to an agreement on was if baseball was played on a diamond or a square. Everybody knows that it is a diamond as I am sure that Maxamillion knew that I was right as well, but he just liked to banter back and forth about it. And now, since I have the last word, this is for you my beloved friend: "Maxamillion, just look down from up above at Homeplate. You now have the same view as the batter. Baseball is played on a diamond."

M. A. Doane family

August 27, 2023

Wishing you all Peace, Grace, Mercy, and Love during this trying time.

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