Max Evans

Biography

Max N. Evans, 72, of West Liberty, Ohio, passed away at his residence Monday, August 29, 2011. He was born August 1, 1939 in Champaign County, Ohio, to Marshall G. and Dorothy (Connolly) Evans.

On June 22, 1963, he married the former Vivian Ann Smith in West Liberty. She survives along with their daughter, Lisa (Ken) Corning of Chapin, South Carolina; grandchildren, Sara Elizabeth and Joshua Evan Corning of Chapin, South Carolina; his brothers, Earl (Jeanne) Evans, Neil (Janice) Evans, both of Urbana, Ohio and Dewitt (Pauletta) Evans of Jamestown,Ohio; a sister-in-law, Sandy (Mitch) Smith of Mechanicsburg, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A 1957 graduate of Salem Local School, Max served in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1965, during the Vietnam War. In January 1966, he began working at the Ohio Caverns and was the owner and operator until his retirement.

Max attended the West Liberty United Church of Christ and was active with local, regional, and national travel and tourism organizations such as the Tecumseh Travel Council, the Logan County C of C and the West Liberty Business Association. He was a past president and Lifetime Honorary Member of the National Caves Association, of which the Ohio Caverns was a charter member. He was active in the community of West Liberty serving on the West Liberty Village Council, member of the Lion’s Club, Masonic Lodge, and Logan, Union, Champaign (LUC). He was also a Salem Township Trustee. He was President of the Champaign County Trustees Association and a board member at Green Hills and on the Board of Directors for the People’s Savings and Loan. He raced a dwarf car at Shady-Bowl Speedway and was an active member of the Ohio Valley Dwarf Car Association.

Max was a mentor to many young men and women who worked at Ohio Caverns over the years. He encouraged a partnership between the Ohio Caverns and the West Liberty Salem Big Orange Cross Country team and hosted an annual invitational race. He was inducted into the West Liberty Salem Athletic Hall of Fame in February 2011.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 P.M. and 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday, September 1, 2011 at the Kauffman-Eichholtz Funeral Home in West Liberty, with a Masonic Service beginning at 8:00 P.M. Pastor Rose M. Michael will conduct the 10:30 A.M. funeral service at the Ohio Caverns Friday, September 2, 2011. Interment will follow the funeral service in the Fairview Cemetery in West Liberty.

The family has requested memorial contributions be made to: Cancer Association of Champaign County P.O. Box 38125 Urbana, OH 43078 or to the donor’s charity of choice.