Max Ellis Call

Max Call

Manti, Utah

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Max Ellis Call of Manti, passed away April 6, 2013 at the Bel Aire Care Center in Pleasant Grove, Utah, of natural causes. At the time of death, Max was 92. Born November 14, 1920 in Afton, Wyoming, to Roland Barlow and Mary Lee Call. He married Beth Hillyard, his high school sweetheart, Kimball, Nebraska, May 3,1941. Later sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple, September 14, 1941. She preceded him in death October 4, 2011.

His first job was running his father’s newspaper, the Star Valley Independent with his brother Lee. After graduating from the University of Wyoming, Max received an officer's commission and left home to serve in WWII with the Army Corps of Engineers, primarily in Alaska. After the Korean War ended in 1953, he returned home to continue running the Independent for another six years. During this time, he lost a 9-month-old daughter, Jane, to a respiratory infection.

He accepted the duty to recruit and organize the first unit of the National Guard in Star Valley—a tank battalion—and was promoted to captain. He went with his "boys" to serve in the Korean War, later to say proudly, "I went over with them and brought them all back."

In 1959, Max moved his family to Holladay, Utah where he became the Utah Regional Director of the Dale Carnegie Course and, later, a travel guide for the Foreign Study League. In 1972, yearning to return to a "small town life," he purchased the Manti Messenger/Ephraim Enterprise newspapers in Sanpete County and the family moved to Manti. Here, he lived the remainder of his life, devotedly serving the community, his church and his family with all his heart, might and strength.

His newspapers won numerous awards including the Utah Press Association’s General Excellence numerous times and his editorial column, Trivia , even won national awards. Max received the UPA Master Editor and Publisher Award. He sat on the Manti City Council and participated in other civil service.

A staunch Republican, a highpoint of Max's life came when he was received an invitation from the White House to attend a press conference in Washington D.C. He was personally introduced to and sat across the table from President Ronald Reagan for luncheon and was given the honor of asking the first question at the press conference. But if you were to ask him of what he was most proud, Max would say his family and his service in the Manti Temple, where he sealed over 500 couples in marriage.

Max will be remembered by all who knew him as a role model of love, integrity, caring, spirituality, enthusiasm, humor, strong work ethic, and high standards. Max was happily married to Beth for 70 years on earth and, now, is reunited with her in heaven for eternity. Ever a revered patriarch and leader of his family, Max stated at every family gathering, "The most important thing to me is my wife and posterity. We are an eternal family." His posterity, in return, will always remember, honor and cherish him.

He is survived by his one sister, Carol; children: Jerry Max, Judeen, Lloyd, Kelly, and David; 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great- granddaughter. Preceded in death by wife Beth; daughter Jane; granddaughters: Kira and Amy Call; his parents, and four siblings.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 12:00 Noon in the Manti 6 ^th Ward, 295 South Main, where friends may call from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Manti City Cemetery with military rites by the Manti American Legion Post #31. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.