Max Douglas Phillips, loving husband, brother, uncle, and granduncle, died on January 29, 2022, of esophageal cancer at the age of 67.
Max was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and all of his aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Rebecca Ann “Becky” Jordan, two sisters (Gail Phillips Barnes and Dianne Phillips Fuqua), three nephews (Denton Spurlock Fuqua, David Phillips Barnes, and …), a niece (Carolyn Janelle Barnes), two grandnephews, and a grandniece. Not to be forgotten, surviving Max are two black cats, Spooky and MoJoe, who entertain him and keep him warm.
Max was born on 15 Oct 1954 in Matador, Motley County, Texas, the only son and middle child of Bonnarea “Bonnie” Janell Fuqua and Henry Loyd “Bud” Phillips. Max died with his wife and sister by his bed.
Max grew up in Floydada, the county seat and biggest town of Floyd County in West Texas, the same town where his mother was born. His Fuqua grandparents lived just around the corner. A fifth-generation Texan, he lived his whole life in Texas.
Max graduated from Floydada High School on 22 May 1973 and went off that fall to Angelo State University in San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas, where he majored in Chemistry. There he met his future wife, Rebecca Ann “Becky” Jordan. He changed colleges for the school year 1975/76 but told his friends there that he really should go back to San Angelo and marry Becky, which is what he did. They married on 21 Aug 1977 in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, and Max graduated with a bachelor of science in Chemistry with a Teaching Certificate from Angelo State University on 12 May 1978.
Max taught 7th and 9th graders for a year in San Angelo before finding a job as a Chemist with Halliburton Services in Alice, Jim Wells County, Texas, in Aug 1979. Following his wife moving to Austin, Travis County, Texas, Max started working as a Lab Analyst on 1 Feb 1992 at the Texas Department of Health, where he later received a promotion to Certification Officer.
Max became a Lab Assessor at the Texas Natural Resources and Conservation Commission (TNRCC) on 1 Sep 2001. A year later, it changed its name to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ.) Max retired from there on 1 May 2013 with a total of 21+ years of service to the State of Texas.
Once he and his wife settled into regular hours in Austin, they thought about finding a hobby they could do together on weekends. For instance, they thought about buying a boat but knew very little about boats. An article in the newspaper caught Becky’s eye about a new Model A Ford club just forming in Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas. They immediately joined the Lone Star Model A Ford Club (LSMAFC) in Oct 1993. Max still had his high school car, a 1928 Model A Ford Tudor Sedan he called Cisco, but they were storing it rather than restoring it. Sixteen years into the marriage, Becky had never seen it run! They toured with the club in “modern iron” for nearly two years before buying a running Model A. Max sold Cisco and bought another 1928 Model A Ford Tudor Sedan on 24 Sep 1995. They called her Maggie.
For the next 25 years, or until the COVID-19 pandemic, Max, Becky, and Maggie toured with the club around Texas. Most tours were day trips, driving the Model As to see the countryside, having lunch, doing some antiquing, and driving back home. But there were also the “Mega Tours.” Week-long or more tours to Big Bend National Park and into Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico. They even joined four other couples who towed their Model As to the Grand Tetons and proceeded to tour Yellowstone National Park for a week. They shared their expertise and spare parts while traveling in a group for fun and safety. The first rule of touring was, “No one ever gets left behind.” Becky would praise Max, saying her driver always got her back home.
Max served as Tour Leader for the Lone Star Model A Ford Club for a year in 1996 and lead many tours after that. He was the Vice President in 1997, then the President five times starting in 1998. He served in many other positions, not to mention attending thousands of Saturday morning breakfasts with the club and hundreds of meetings literally. They thoroughly enjoyed the hobby and the people.
After owning Maggie for 26+ years, more than half their married life, Max and Becky handpicked some new owners for their beloved Model A Ford. On 14 Dec 2021, the title was signed, and Maggie went home to a new young family with three kids.
Max was officially diagnosed with esophageal cancer (metastatic, stage IV, incurable) on 18 Jan 2021. Becky and Max switched roles throughout the year – she became his driver. It was a year full of doctor appointments, chemo, radiation, and surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, but neither of them ever caught it. This is astonishing, considering the hours, days, and nights spent in hospitals and doctors’ offices.
Ever the Scientist, Max’s body was donated to the Sam Houston State University’s Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility (STAFS) in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas.
A Celebration of Life was held at the Sheraton Georgetown Conference Center on 10 Apr 2022, with more than 70 people attending.
