Max Guy Jackson, Jr.

Max was born to Max Guy Jackson Sr. and Patricia Potter Jackson on June 20, 1946, at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, KS. Max's father had been discharged from the Army Air Force, and the young couple moved from Peabody to Marion so that Max Sr. could work with his father, Guy Jackson, in the Jackson Clothing Store.

Max was the first child and would be joined over the next five and one-half years by George, Helen, and Roger. He was blessed with a loving and supportive nuclear family and many close relatives in Peabody where both his parents were born and raised. Further blessings for Max included a good small-town school system and an effective spiritual guidance from the Marion Presbyterian Church.

In this environment he thrived, excelling and enjoying the life of a small-town schoolboy. He attended Marion Public schools from Kindergarten through High School. Particularly important during this era was the closing of the county schools. Beginning in fifth grade, kids from the county schools began transferring their schooling to Marion where they had a profoundly positive impact on the class of 1964.

Max enjoyed athletics and particularly enjoyed the camaraderie with his teammates. He was selected as All State Honorable Mention for both football and basketball. He was a natural runner, winning the Kansas State Indoor quarter mile, and later in the season set a Marion High School record for that event which still stands. In academics he was fortunate to have several outstanding teachers and he was class valedictorian. Most important to Max, however, were the lifelong friendships from his Marion years which he rekindled after returning to his hometown.

Max attended the University of Kansas where he played Freshman Varsity basketball for KU, was Phi Beta Kappa, and was President of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. Max is grateful for continuing friendships with his pledge brothers.

Following college Max attended the University of Kansas Medical School graduating with a Medical Degree in 1972. His internship was at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco, and he did a residency in Family Medicine at the University of Connecticut. For several years after his residency Max was on the medical school faculty at the University of Connecticut during which time he became interested in physician administrative management.

In 1984, Max was accepted into Harvard Business School and received an MBA in 1986. During business school Max met and married Pamela Elaine Braye, also a student at Harvard.

Following business school Pam and Max moved to Kansas City where Max was employed for the next 18 years as the Chief Medical Officer of Research Medical Center. Max and Pam were thrilled with the birth of Ethan in 1987 and Lydia in 1991. Max often emphasized that having children was the greatest gift possible in life. Pam was a loving and talented wife and mother. In 2006 Max moved to Reno, Nevada to accept the position of Chief Medical Officer of Renown Regional Medical Center, a hospital with 800 beds and a medical staff of over 1000 physicians. While in Reno, the marriage to Pam ended and since then they have remained friends.

While in Reno, Max met Barbara Wilson, who had retired to Reno after a 30-year management career with Xerox. In retirement Barbara developed her informal jazz singing interests into a definitive career which included performances at the major jazz clubs and restaurants in Reno and surrounding areas. Max became a sit-in performer, playing trombone and guitar. Friendship and mutual interests led to more, and they married in 2015.

Barbara and Max moved to Marion for their retirement years. Barbara quickly established her credentials as a jazz vocalist, frequently performing in Marion County and in Wichita at the Newport Grill. They were a loving couple and frequently traveled and supported local restaurants.

Preceding Max in death were his grandparents Guy and Martha Jackson, and George and Helen Potter. His parents Patricia Potter Jackson and Max Jackson Sr, and his brother Roger Jackson. He leaves his wife Barbara; children Ethan and Lydia; grandson August; sister Helen (Tim) Nicholson; brother George (Jeanette) Jackson; sister-in-law Sandy Jackson, and many beloved cousins.

A memorial service will be held in honor of Max at Marion Presbyterian Church, 610 E. Lawrence Street, Marion, Kansas on Saturday, July 18 at 11:00 a.m. A reception to follow.

Memorials have been designated to Good Shepherd Hospice, Compassion International or St. Jude Chidlren’s Hospital in care of Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, P.O. Box 96, Marion, Kansas 66861.