Max E. Yarber (Mountain Grove)'s Obituary
Max Eugene Yarber, son of Wade Joel and Minnie Viola Storm Yarber, was born March 17, 1929 in Mountain View, Missouri. He departed this life Friday, March 6, 2015, in Autumn Oaks Care Center, Mountain Grove, Missouri, at the age of eighty-five years, eleven months, and twenty days.
On December 27, 1948, Max was united in marriage to Alice Jane Buff, and together they shared sixty years of marriage until her passing on January 20, 2009.
Max was also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Carl and Leo Yarber; a granddaughter, Jennifer Alexander; one nephew, Jackie Allen Yarber; brother-in-law, Roy Herter; sister-in-law, Eunice Yarber.
He is survived by his children, Sandra Housley and husband Monte, , Wade Yarber, Patricia Nunn, and Kent Yarber and wife Diane, all of Mountain Grove, Missouri; grandchildren, Annette Burt of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Wesley Crisp and wife Teresa, of Norwood, Missouri, Loretta Ellis and husband Donnie, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Anthony Crisp, of Hartville, Missouri, Joseph Yarber and wife Susan, of Pineville, North Carolina, Wayco Yarber and wife Holli, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Carrie Guilliams and husband Jamie, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Laura Martus, of Springfield, Missouri, Tara Emery and husband Chris, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Brooke Coffman and husband Chad, of Cabool, Missouri, Kristen Yarber, Mountain Grove, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Danielle Brewer and husband Jared, of Florence, Arizona, and Candice Yarber, of Mountain Grove, Missouri; twenty-four great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Evelyn Herter of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; a brother, Jack Yarber and wife Vera, of Birch Tree, Missouri; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a host of other relatives and many dear friends.
Max was born in Mountain View, Missouri and was a graduate of the Mountain View High School in the Class of 1948. He moved to Mountain Grove shortly after high school and went to work for the Stewart Chip Company. In 1953, Max purchased the route and became known as “The Candy man.” He owned and operated the Max Yarber Candy Company. He would serve his customers for over sixty years until his retirement in 2013.
Max had accepted the Lord as his Savior later in life.
Max dearly loved sports, and attended many high school events over the years. He was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Birch Tree Tournament for making a full court basket to win the tournament while he was playing with the Mountain View High School basketball team. He never turned down playing a game of basketball with the grandkids and great-grandkids. None of them were ever to beat him shooting free throws and of course he loved every minute of it.
He was an avid bowler and had bowled in various leagues and tournaments throughout the years. In his younger years, Max enjoyed deer, turkey, and quail hunting, fishing, and being outdoors. He cherished the time spent with his family and had a fondness for children. He was known as a “prankster” and loved to play practical jokes on his friends.
Max was a loving father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and will treasure the many wonderful memories he has left for us.
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